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[sundubuman]

could have predicted this.....

Zimbabwe poised to welcome back white farmers




Christopher Thompson, Harare
Wednesday January 3, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

A Zimbabwean farmer in front of her property after an attack in 2000

President Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe, which has mounted a six-year campaign to seize white-owned farms, is poised to allow hundreds of white farmers to return to their land as the country faces starvation and economic collapse.

"There could be some 300 whites back on farms by the end of next year," Sam Moyo, a government land adviser, told the Guardian. "Most of them will be running commercial farms."

Since November, 19 white farmers who lost ownership of their land have been granted 99-year, government-backed leases on resettled farms in a spectacular U-turn by Mr Mugabe.

Article continues
On a commercial farm lying off a clay-dirt road just outside the town of Kadoma, 74 miles from the capital, Harare, Jim Boethe described how he had been invited back to his land.

"When land-reform started we had nearly 1,000 hectares growing maize," he said. "It was divided up [by the government] and now we only have 100. But we are happy to be back - we applied for the lease and are waiting for it to be signed."

In July 2005 Mr Mugabe declared that his land reform policy would be complete only when there was "not a single white on the farms". But a contracting economy, hyperinflation touching 1,100% and food shortages have forced the authorities to allow some interested whites to return.

"We had to demonstrate to the government that we were going to be productive ... growing food for local markets and not just for export. We grow maize, sweet potatoes and tomatoes and export our paprika," Mr Boethe explained.

The land minister, Flora Buka, said the government had received more than 200 applications so far from whites to take up farming again. There are only about 600 white farmers left in Zimbabwe, down from 4,500 six years ago.

After Mr Mugabe was defeated in a referendum on Zimbabwe's constitution in 1999, the government decided to "fast-track" land reform in order to win over a hostile electorate. The process resulted in farm seizures by supporters of the ruling Zanu-PF party, spearheaded by landless veterans of the country's war for independence.

The UN-funded World Food Programme has said that 2 million Zimbabweans will need food aid in the next six months despite improved agricultural output last season.

But the welcoming back of white farmers may be too little too late.

"We know other farmers that have gone elsewhere - Australia, South Africa, even Nigeria. We looked at a farm in neighbouring Zambia too, just to keep our options open," said Mr Boethe. "People have very little foreign exchange to buy inputs now - so a lot of the land is just idle."

Critics say the new 99-year leases won't do much to boost productivity and, given recent farm appropriations by government, farmers will be reluctant to invest.

The government is more bullish, arguing that now land reform has been consolidated - with some 150,000 people resettled on to farms, according to official figures - yields will begin to increase.

But the move comes amid deepening crisis in the country, with Mr Mugabe having announced plans to "harmonise" presidential elections - scheduled for 2008 - with the parliamentary poll in 2010.

The government says the plan will save money, but critics say it is the first move towards prolonging Mr Mugabe's rule indefinitely. These fears were fuelled when the land minister, Didymus Mutasa, recently suggested Mr Mugabe should be made president for life.

The proposal has infuriated Zanu moderates, who were hoping Mr Mugabe would retire and give a new government a chance to rebuild bridges with western donors who have suspended aid.

The proposal has also inflamed a succession struggle after Mr Mugabe's decision in 2004 to appoint Joyce Mujuru, a relative political lightweight, as his deputy - a post seen as a stepping stone for the top job. Ms Mujuru, who owns several farms, is competing with the rural housing minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa, for Mr Mugabe's blessing.

[W.T.Carl]

Of course they do. But then only a fool would go back as long as that monkey is still in charge. Mugabe took the jewel of Southern Africa and turned it into a hell hole. But then again, did ANYBODY expect anything less?

[jaganath69]

He's my pick for next on the gallows. Sheesh, who would go back to that while he is still there?

[cbclark4]

You think his farm policy is bad check out his AIDs policy.

cbc

[Junior]

-and all because you silly western whiteys helped him to power all those years ago...looks like your "sanctions" are finally beginning to bite

[Adventurer]

I am almost tempted to say to the whites don't go, and let them starve since they didn't protest your expulsion, but that would be cruel. If there are government guarantees, and perhaps some international aid for those farmers starting up again, then why not? They could make good money with the right backing. Mugabe's move reminds me of when Gamal Abdel Nasser seized lots of land from Egyptian aristocrats and gave it to uneducated peasants who didn't make very good use of the land. It was a good idea, in theory, but it was a very bad on in practice. If you seize land, you have to make sure people have equipment and training. Then, it is the dumbest idea on Earth.

[stevemcgarrett]

Ah, Mugabe, makes Wo Fat seem like a real gentleman.

I have a South African (white) acquaintance who predicted all this a long time ago.

Without due compensation I wouldn't go back and I'd still think twice with that Castro wannabe in power. He's Exhibit A at the UN Conference on why African rulers are largely responsible for their own people's suffering. That's not P.C., but there you go.

[mindmetoo]

[the_beaver]

[Junior]

The betrayal of your own flesh and blood, rhodesia..into the hands of marxist terrs that would utterly destroy a promising country..the blame for that is at the doors of of all you sanctimonious westerners who for the sake of trend and whim decided it was OK to damn your loyal allies in the name of political fashion. I guess you'll be electing islamist governements next in order to be politically correct.
Kinda fun now that your 60's policies are bearing fruit now..chickens home to roost.
Rule No.1 you don't injure your friends to placate your enemies.
You despicable betrayers of your own people.

[twg]

[mindmetoo]