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Mugabe and the White African
An intimate account of one family's astonishing bravery in the face of brutality, as well as perhaps the outside world's only real glimpse of what it is like to live inside the terror of Mugabe's Zimbabwe Ben Freeth has an extraordinary story to tell. Like that of many white farmers, his family's land was "reclaimed" by Mugabe's government for redistribution—but Ben's family fought back. Appealing to international law, they instigated a suit against Mugabe's government in the SADC, the Southern African equivalent of NATO. The case was deferred time and again while Mugabe's men applied political pressure to have the case thrown out. But after Freeth and his parents-in-law were abducted and beaten within inches of death in 2008, the SADC deemed any further delay to be an obstruction of justice. The case was heard, and successful on all counts. But the story doesn't end there—in 2009, the family farm was burned to the
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 11, 2013
The most awful book I have ever read on this subject. And trust me, I have read a lot. If you want a more balanced and nuanced read on postcolonial Zimbabwe look for Peter Godwin or Douglas Rogers. The writing in this book is absolutely awful but I could put up with that if it wasn't for the narrow-minded, biased, unintelligent proclamations of the author. For example, the first chapter deals with the independence war but Freeth fails to mention WHY there was a war (black Zimbabweans fighting for freedom under an oppressive white rule) he just calls them 'terrs' and makes out like they were just killing white farmers for fun. What about what the Rhodesian (white) army did in that war? How many civilians did THEY kill!? And no, I am not a Mugabe supporter, I just prefer my books, especially ones that claim to be non-fiction, not to be trashy pieces of propaganda. SO MANY better books on this subject you can read, really and trully do not bother with this one.
August 24, 2011
Title: MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN
Author: Ben Freeth
Publisher: Lyon Press
July 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7459-5546-9
Genre: Biography
The white farmers in Africa have struggled for more than ten years to keep their land in Zimbabwe from the control of Mugabe. Under the white farmers, the farms flourished and families thrived. However, Mugabe was determined to remove all the white settlers from Zimbabwe, because of jealousy, greed, racism, hatred, or a combination of all the above. This is the horrific account and true account of what the white families went through to try to save their land.
This well-documented book is an account of the downfall of the farms, the methods the families used to try to keep their land, and the brutality of Mugabe and his followers to the white farmers.
Both the Campbell and Freeth families were able to keep their faith in God throughout the whole revolution, teaching their children to stand strong in the Lord. Freeth quotes some Scriptures and prophecies that came to pass in the land under the dictatorship of Mugabe.
MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN is not a book for those who can’t handle violence. Mugabe used that tactic against the white settlers to try to remove them from the land. This is a real story, and there is also a documentary available that covers it. Maps, appendixes with updates, and forwards by a couple archbishops are included.
$14.95. 253 pages.
Author: Ben Freeth
Publisher: Lyon Press
July 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7459-5546-9
Genre: Biography
The white farmers in Africa have struggled for more than ten years to keep their land in Zimbabwe from the control of Mugabe. Under the white farmers, the farms flourished and families thrived. However, Mugabe was determined to remove all the white settlers from Zimbabwe, because of jealousy, greed, racism, hatred, or a combination of all the above. This is the horrific account and true account of what the white families went through to try to save their land.
This well-documented book is an account of the downfall of the farms, the methods the families used to try to keep their land, and the brutality of Mugabe and his followers to the white farmers.
Both the Campbell and Freeth families were able to keep their faith in God throughout the whole revolution, teaching their children to stand strong in the Lord. Freeth quotes some Scriptures and prophecies that came to pass in the land under the dictatorship of Mugabe.
MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN is not a book for those who can’t handle violence. Mugabe used that tactic against the white settlers to try to remove them from the land. This is a real story, and there is also a documentary available that covers it. Maps, appendixes with updates, and forwards by a couple archbishops are included.
$14.95. 253 pages.
July 14, 2012
I am reluctantly giving this book 3 stars, to average out the one star and five star ratings that it truly deserves. Absolutely compelling subject matter about how Mugabe has destroyed his country under the guise of throwing off the colonial yoke of Dutch/Scottish/British settlers in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe by murder, theft, intimidation and just general thuggery. And a first person account, no less.
But the writing. After slogging through the first 100 pages, and skipping through the rest (while checking Wikipedia about some stuff), I understand why editors are important. The writing is deadly awful. Still could mostly forgive that, but the writer ends up justifying his stubborn refusal to leave Zimbabwe because he believes that is what God wanted. Maybe. But having three kids under the age of 10 and a wife subjected to being shot at and having their home burned around their ears, hard for me to stomach. OK to risk your own skin, but not OK to risk kids.
Zimbabwe is a human tragedy of the first order, and it is rare to get such a close-up of a madman and his minions. That said, the prose almost killed my ability to get through it.
But the writing. After slogging through the first 100 pages, and skipping through the rest (while checking Wikipedia about some stuff), I understand why editors are important. The writing is deadly awful. Still could mostly forgive that, but the writer ends up justifying his stubborn refusal to leave Zimbabwe because he believes that is what God wanted. Maybe. But having three kids under the age of 10 and a wife subjected to being shot at and having their home burned around their ears, hard for me to stomach. OK to risk your own skin, but not OK to risk kids.
Zimbabwe is a human tragedy of the first order, and it is rare to get such a close-up of a madman and his minions. That said, the prose almost killed my ability to get through it.
December 4, 2012
There have been many very good books written about the Rhodesian bush war but I believe Ben Freeth's shocking account of what happened to him and his family, their struggle, their courage, their suffering, the indignities they had to endure, the broken promises and their loss is so superbly documented, so heart-wrenchingly honest, it is as if one is standing right by his side. The only real losers are the perpetrators for they can only hang their heads in shame. The only criticism I might have had was that too much religion was bandied about but then I came to realise, all they had was God.. as the world looked the other way. And then I understood.
I strongly recommend this as a 'must read' for those who were there and more especially for those who were not.
I strongly recommend this as a 'must read' for those who were there and more especially for those who were not.
September 2, 2019
Focused too much on religion
February 27, 2023
Freeth's account of the years of violence and intimidation and of his long, exhausting fight to hold tyrannical madman Mugabe's villainous government to account for it in court is an incredibly frustrating book to read. Freeth's writing style is simple and straightforward and his descriptions of the farm invasions he witnessed, and was victim of are horrifying. For these alone, this is a worthwhile read. He also paints a compelling picture of a wildly corrupt government and a willfully incompetent judicial system
But this book has some serious problems.
Firstly, this is an extremely religious book. I'm not one of those raging-against-religion atheists. I'm one of the quiet, let-people-believe-what-they-want types but the sheer amount of Bible-bashing gets beyond grating. Clearly, Freeth's faith is hugely important to him and helped give him and his family courage and comfort but he just goes on and on and on about it. Various accounts of visions in the sky and signs from Heaven litter the text and, at times he comes across as both smugly, condescendingly pious and even outright delusional. One of his favourite anecdotes is all the times he commandeered meetings to read out lengthy Biblical passages, which is perfectly normal behaviour, of course.
Secondly, Freeth's 'un-nuanced' view of African colonialism and its role in shaping the 'racist' black nationalist and pan-Africanism is just belligerently off-putting. The book's appendices include Freeth's letter to Mugabe, written in 2005 in which he writes of "the arrival of the colonial white man, and the favourable conditions that this brought for the population..." Freeth complains often of the racism he and Zimbabwe's white farmers faced (with good reason - the 'land reform' was blatantly racist) but seems completely blind to the horrific history behind their presence in Africa.
Thirdly, while Freeth seems to genuinely care about the black African farm workers caught up in, and often victims of, the violence, he writes about black Africans in a sort of nauseating, paternalistic way. He seems to consider white people in general - and especially Christians - to be superior to them. I think there's a word for that. He also peddles all sorts of monolithic, outdated myths about Africa, too. Yes, he even uses the term "dark continent" and blames the problems of his imaginary, monolithic 'Africa-is-all-the-same' vision of Africa on... evil spirits, the worship of evil spirits and not enough good, old-fashioned Christianity.
Oh, and just for good measure, he insists that Christianity is at the root of all law, order and a functioning economy. As noted earlier, at times he comes across as genuinely delusional.
Unfortunately, all this damages Freeth's credibility and distracts terribly from his central story - a gruelling eyewitness account of an unfolding humanitarian and economic disaster. A deeply disappointing book that could have done with much more stringent editing and a tighter focus on the events, not Freeth's various beliefs and theories.
But this book has some serious problems.
Firstly, this is an extremely religious book. I'm not one of those raging-against-religion atheists. I'm one of the quiet, let-people-believe-what-they-want types but the sheer amount of Bible-bashing gets beyond grating. Clearly, Freeth's faith is hugely important to him and helped give him and his family courage and comfort but he just goes on and on and on about it. Various accounts of visions in the sky and signs from Heaven litter the text and, at times he comes across as both smugly, condescendingly pious and even outright delusional. One of his favourite anecdotes is all the times he commandeered meetings to read out lengthy Biblical passages, which is perfectly normal behaviour, of course.
Secondly, Freeth's 'un-nuanced' view of African colonialism and its role in shaping the 'racist' black nationalist and pan-Africanism is just belligerently off-putting. The book's appendices include Freeth's letter to Mugabe, written in 2005 in which he writes of "the arrival of the colonial white man, and the favourable conditions that this brought for the population..." Freeth complains often of the racism he and Zimbabwe's white farmers faced (with good reason - the 'land reform' was blatantly racist) but seems completely blind to the horrific history behind their presence in Africa.
Thirdly, while Freeth seems to genuinely care about the black African farm workers caught up in, and often victims of, the violence, he writes about black Africans in a sort of nauseating, paternalistic way. He seems to consider white people in general - and especially Christians - to be superior to them. I think there's a word for that. He also peddles all sorts of monolithic, outdated myths about Africa, too. Yes, he even uses the term "dark continent" and blames the problems of his imaginary, monolithic 'Africa-is-all-the-same' vision of Africa on... evil spirits, the worship of evil spirits and not enough good, old-fashioned Christianity.
Oh, and just for good measure, he insists that Christianity is at the root of all law, order and a functioning economy. As noted earlier, at times he comes across as genuinely delusional.
Unfortunately, all this damages Freeth's credibility and distracts terribly from his central story - a gruelling eyewitness account of an unfolding humanitarian and economic disaster. A deeply disappointing book that could have done with much more stringent editing and a tighter focus on the events, not Freeth's various beliefs and theories.
September 5, 2025
Mugabe and the White African by Ben Freeth is a record of the author's faith as much as it is of the titular dictator's campaign of violence against white Zimbabweans. As with all histories, it contains lessons and insights that remain relevant for our own times and circumstances. "When they're outside the situation, many people believe that they would never be party to aiding and abetting tyranny. The reality is that the vast majority are so overcome by fear that they do." "Many who have never lived under the cloud of fear that characterizes dictatorship will not believe this. It is a sad facet of human nature that people can be so easily cowed and driven to hopeless despair." "Almost everyone became complicit...because they simply did not want to know." "It was a frustrating, wearying process...everything was always left in a state of uncertainty. The more worn down [they] became, the easier it was for [the] government to walk all over them. ... It was foolishness, but dictators make people into fools through fear." "It was the classic game of raising hopes and then dashing them again."
September 9, 2020
This is a foolish man, willingly putting his wife and small children in immediate danger because he cannot comprehend that his country has become lawless. I would sympathize more with him if he had even vaguely referenced the colonial racism and segregation that he claims was beneficial to Zimbabwe but he doesn't. He truly believes that white colonizers brought only good and that it is the black Africans who have brought ruin. I was not prepared for such a bigoted point of view.
Read
December 27, 2021Dnf
August 10, 2022
Shocking story but well worth reading
October 4, 2011
Mugabe and the White African is a non-fiction account of the farmers plight during the Mugabe regime, with forewords by Desmond Tutu and John Sentamu.
For more than 30 years the farmers of Zimbabwe have been fighting the Mugabe government in order to restore the declining state of affairs that Mugabe and his henchmen have destroyed.
Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, is a racist, hate filled pariah who will stop at nothing to remove the white farmers from their lands, claiming only those who are African may hold their titles. While some of the farmers moved to Africa to farm, many of the farming families had been there for generations, being born and bred on the lands of Africa, making them all African. However, Mugabe believes only those who are black are african, his motto being, "Only good white man is a dead white man" and he sets up a genocide program encouraging his supporters to do whatever act necessary to take back control of these farming lands.
Mugabe's proposal is to take all the land and divided it amongst his "favourites" in a lottery system. His delegates use a paint pot, brush and a lottery to determine who will control that rested lands. Upon receiving the land, the new "owners" would annihilate all trees, animals and vegetation and leave the land barren and defunct. Many of the farmers had their lands stolen by the Mugabe government and there were others who were beaten, murdered, raped and their houses and livelihoods destroyed in jealous and evil rages.
The few farmers who held together were becoming fewer and fewer as the reign of tyranny continues to escalate and the police nor the governing bodies set in place to ensure these acts of violence do not occur, actually helped promote the madness. Many people's lives could have been saved if the police had done their job, if the judicial system didn't just give lip service and if the people stood up to the fear that was being bred in their neighbourhoods.
After Ben and his family lose their house to fire, beaten beyond recognition, they once again turn to the court systems to uphold the law. Now, the outside world is finally listening and perhaps the wrongs can be righted. The road is long and the whole system is corrupt and only those with faith in God and attest to his wonderous powers will remain and as of this year, 2011, the Mugabe government still holds power and rages war on the white farmers of Zimbabwe.
Ben Freeth, father-in-law, Mike Campbell, along with their families have always stood up to the Mugabe regime and for that they have lost everything they own and still they fight. This book has been made into a documentary and the world is awakening to the plight, but will it be enough or will it be too late?
This book is very disturbing literature to read. The situations involved with the farmers is very graphic and horrendous to absorb. I became furious at humanity for allowing things such as this to occur and not just in Zimbabwe, but everywhere in the world it seems evil people rule. The evil that was shared within these pages was honest, direct and appalling. I do not understand how a ruler, such as Mugabe, could ever be allowed to rule with such blatant practices that I read about.
I was also appalled to learn that at a time when Mugabe should have been asked to step down from his seat of power, the Queen of England decides he should be awarded a knighthood, my mind was flabbergasted. However, I did some research and she has since stripped him of this title...thank the goodness! I should also note that Mugabe is now in power with a co-regent after the violence and vote-rigging that occurred in 2008.
The amount of death and destruction and for what purpose? To run your country, a country that was at the top of its game, into a wallowing pity-filled haven for jealous tyrants is shameful. To take your country's life bread and destroy it is asinine and absurd. If there was a purpose to reallocating and making SOMETHING from the horrors, then maybe, the actions of the Zimbabwe government could be forgiven, however, it is clear to the reader that Zimbabwe has been run for 31 years by a psychotic madman, who believes in crocodiles as his power totem, a symbol of evil in Africa and its rumoured that he performs sacrifices in order to secure his stronghold. In Africa the gods and ghosts of the past are strongly integrated into the religious practices of many Zimbabweans, in so much that, to have a curse uttered at you is as sure as death. Such is their strong belief in the supernatural spiritual aspects of the Shona religion.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves non-fiction reads, who has a care about our world or you need a reminder that the world can be an evil place, especially if we allow it to remain so. I think those of a religious nature would enjoy this book also, Ben and his family are spiritual people who often turn to our God in order to help and time and again, they were given the proper answers to deal with the situation that evil men can and DO create.
For more than 30 years the farmers of Zimbabwe have been fighting the Mugabe government in order to restore the declining state of affairs that Mugabe and his henchmen have destroyed.
Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, is a racist, hate filled pariah who will stop at nothing to remove the white farmers from their lands, claiming only those who are African may hold their titles. While some of the farmers moved to Africa to farm, many of the farming families had been there for generations, being born and bred on the lands of Africa, making them all African. However, Mugabe believes only those who are black are african, his motto being, "Only good white man is a dead white man" and he sets up a genocide program encouraging his supporters to do whatever act necessary to take back control of these farming lands.
Mugabe's proposal is to take all the land and divided it amongst his "favourites" in a lottery system. His delegates use a paint pot, brush and a lottery to determine who will control that rested lands. Upon receiving the land, the new "owners" would annihilate all trees, animals and vegetation and leave the land barren and defunct. Many of the farmers had their lands stolen by the Mugabe government and there were others who were beaten, murdered, raped and their houses and livelihoods destroyed in jealous and evil rages.
The few farmers who held together were becoming fewer and fewer as the reign of tyranny continues to escalate and the police nor the governing bodies set in place to ensure these acts of violence do not occur, actually helped promote the madness. Many people's lives could have been saved if the police had done their job, if the judicial system didn't just give lip service and if the people stood up to the fear that was being bred in their neighbourhoods.
After Ben and his family lose their house to fire, beaten beyond recognition, they once again turn to the court systems to uphold the law. Now, the outside world is finally listening and perhaps the wrongs can be righted. The road is long and the whole system is corrupt and only those with faith in God and attest to his wonderous powers will remain and as of this year, 2011, the Mugabe government still holds power and rages war on the white farmers of Zimbabwe.
Ben Freeth, father-in-law, Mike Campbell, along with their families have always stood up to the Mugabe regime and for that they have lost everything they own and still they fight. This book has been made into a documentary and the world is awakening to the plight, but will it be enough or will it be too late?
This book is very disturbing literature to read. The situations involved with the farmers is very graphic and horrendous to absorb. I became furious at humanity for allowing things such as this to occur and not just in Zimbabwe, but everywhere in the world it seems evil people rule. The evil that was shared within these pages was honest, direct and appalling. I do not understand how a ruler, such as Mugabe, could ever be allowed to rule with such blatant practices that I read about.
I was also appalled to learn that at a time when Mugabe should have been asked to step down from his seat of power, the Queen of England decides he should be awarded a knighthood, my mind was flabbergasted. However, I did some research and she has since stripped him of this title...thank the goodness! I should also note that Mugabe is now in power with a co-regent after the violence and vote-rigging that occurred in 2008.
The amount of death and destruction and for what purpose? To run your country, a country that was at the top of its game, into a wallowing pity-filled haven for jealous tyrants is shameful. To take your country's life bread and destroy it is asinine and absurd. If there was a purpose to reallocating and making SOMETHING from the horrors, then maybe, the actions of the Zimbabwe government could be forgiven, however, it is clear to the reader that Zimbabwe has been run for 31 years by a psychotic madman, who believes in crocodiles as his power totem, a symbol of evil in Africa and its rumoured that he performs sacrifices in order to secure his stronghold. In Africa the gods and ghosts of the past are strongly integrated into the religious practices of many Zimbabweans, in so much that, to have a curse uttered at you is as sure as death. Such is their strong belief in the supernatural spiritual aspects of the Shona religion.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves non-fiction reads, who has a care about our world or you need a reminder that the world can be an evil place, especially if we allow it to remain so. I think those of a religious nature would enjoy this book also, Ben and his family are spiritual people who often turn to our God in order to help and time and again, they were given the proper answers to deal with the situation that evil men can and DO create.
August 25, 2011
Sadly, hatred, prejudice, and inhumanity still exist in our world today. They know no boundaries and wear many colors. "Mugabe and the White African" is one such true story. Ben Freeth was one of many white men who had grown up in Zimbabwe. Their families had farmed the land for generations and then, Mugabe came to power and started taking the land for the government. His sole purpose was to drive the white man from his land and gain complete control over the people.
For more than ten years, the Freeths, Campbells, and others fought for the right to continue farming on their land. They knew the risks. They had seen the destruction leveled on other farms, on other people. They had become all too familiar with death. Courage comes from many places, and Ben drew his from God. He and the others worked through the legal system to help stop the land take-over in order to keep the land that was theirs. Come, read the true account of the harrowing accounts that would have made many people run in fear. It is the story of the destruction of a country.
I received this free book as part of a blog tour from FSB Media, and I thank them for the opportunity! I recommend this book to those who enjoy true stories and to those who think things like this don't happen in the world today. The comments by Desmond Tutu and John Sentamu will prepare you to read on.
For more than ten years, the Freeths, Campbells, and others fought for the right to continue farming on their land. They knew the risks. They had seen the destruction leveled on other farms, on other people. They had become all too familiar with death. Courage comes from many places, and Ben drew his from God. He and the others worked through the legal system to help stop the land take-over in order to keep the land that was theirs. Come, read the true account of the harrowing accounts that would have made many people run in fear. It is the story of the destruction of a country.
I received this free book as part of a blog tour from FSB Media, and I thank them for the opportunity! I recommend this book to those who enjoy true stories and to those who think things like this don't happen in the world today. The comments by Desmond Tutu and John Sentamu will prepare you to read on.
July 2, 2013
MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN by Ben Freeth Ben Freeth and his father-in-law, Mike Campbell lived and farmed in Zimbabe for years, until Mugabe began his land seizure program. Mugabe wanted all whites out of his country and used whatever he could to achieve his desires.
He is an evil, evil man and this is Ben's story of how he and his family took a stand against Mugabe. The despair the family went through, the court trials, the beatings they took from Mugabe's goons and more are discussed. One gets a closer look at President Mugabe, his
people, the land and the Tribulation.
There are pictures included that really bring this memoir home. There is also a map and the letter that Ben wrote Mugabe A well-written memoir that is compelling, emotional, engaging and distressing. This is a great companion to the award winning documentary, MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN.
He is an evil, evil man and this is Ben's story of how he and his family took a stand against Mugabe. The despair the family went through, the court trials, the beatings they took from Mugabe's goons and more are discussed. One gets a closer look at President Mugabe, his
people, the land and the Tribulation.
There are pictures included that really bring this memoir home. There is also a map and the letter that Ben wrote Mugabe A well-written memoir that is compelling, emotional, engaging and distressing. This is a great companion to the award winning documentary, MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN.
July 28, 2013
This was really great ; a bit over the top with the religious beliefs for me, but then again, it isn't my story to tell! One of the special things about reading this book, for me, was that because I have read so many memoirs of white farmers in Zimbabwe, the area and neighbors Ben Freeth spoke of were some that I have read about - those people have written their own memoirs! It has been a bit like getting to know a neighborhood of people, all with their own points of view. There are no words to describe from an outside perspective what it must have been like/be like to experience life in Zimbabwe under dictator-lunatic Mugabe. I'll continue to read on the topic, for sure.
November 7, 2012
Mugabe and the White African is the story of one family's experiences in Zimbabwe as they battled to keep their farm in the face of immense aggression, intimidation and pressure. It was a truly moving read, and opened my eyes to the seriousness of all that has been going on their for the past few years. What a story and what a tale of courage, determination and dependence upon God.
I highly, highly recommend this one for a gripping story, eye-opening recounts and a fascinating insight into life in Zimbabwe.
I highly, highly recommend this one for a gripping story, eye-opening recounts and a fascinating insight into life in Zimbabwe.
October 26, 2021
This narration of the terrible atrocities committed by Mugabe and his hoodlums on the mass of black citizenry and white farmers that reduced Zimbabwe from a fertile and prosperous country to a nation denuded of all economic assets and prospects is both stark and depressing.
A story of immense courage and fortitude backed by the belief in God’s will.
A story of immense courage and fortitude backed by the belief in God’s will.
May 16, 2013
Ben demonstrates a lot of courage as he tells his ordeal at the hands of a brutal government. A very honest account of what happened to him while he stood for justice and truth. I admire him for allowing his faith to shine through all he experienced.
February 5, 2017
Sad and upsetting.
April 4, 2012
A compelling story, and adds to the texture of Africa. Writing as a memoir was compelling, but also its drawback.
December 19, 2012
Fascinating account of man's capability for evil; the consequences of short sighted evil; and the ability of the gospel to provide hope in all circumstances.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews