by Nick Evans

Next week’s London Film Festival will feature a new movie documenting the life of Zimbabwean farmer Ben Freeth, who is originally from Sittingbourne.

Mr Freeth will be returning to his parents’ home at Borden when he attends the two fully booked screenings of Mugabe And The White African on Wednesday and Friday.

Much of the documentary-style film has been shot secretly as it tells the story of how Mr Freeth, his wife Laura and her parents Mike and Angela Campbell struggle to continue farming in Chegutu, about 90 minutes’ drive from the Zimbabwean capital Harare.

Over the past 12 years, the family has been repeatedly attacked by loyalists of president Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party attempting to seize their property and oust white farmers from the country.

Last year the family was badly beaten in one attack, and two months ago their home was razed to the ground by arsonists.

Mr Freeth’s mother Claire has recently returned from Zimbabwe. She said:

“The house was set on fire on my second day there. The community rallied round and in less than a day the family had been loaned another house with furniture and a fridge full of food.”

Last week, the situation turned ugly again when Laura visited the ruins of their home.

Claire said: “Laura arrived to find a group of 11 thugs looking at the house’s generator, which had not been damaged in the fire.

"She quickly made plans to remove it only to be accused by the local police of stealing it herself. The police haven’t been paid for a long time so they try to make money by getting involved in crime as well.

“I went to give a statement after the house fire and I have never been anywhere as sinister as the local police station.”

Last week Mr Freeth hit the headlines when he travelled to Washington D.C. to urge President Barack Obama to put pressure on Zimbabawe to help resolve its political crisis.

Claire said: “Ben spoke to a lot of people on Capitol Hill and we hope the Americans can lean on Mugabe to end all the misery. We all have a strong faith and believe it will come good in the end.”

More information about Mugabe and The White African can be found atwww.mugabeandthewhiteafrican.com