Submit your comments on this article | |
East/Subsaharan Africa | |
Bob’s Boys Bag Bounty | |
2003-02-22 | |
Some of President Robert Mugabe's closest allies and relatives have seized farms intended for the resettlement of poor blacks, according to a secret government report prepared by the Zimbabwean vice-president, Joseph Msika, and leaked yesterday to a London newsletter. What a convenient leak. I wonder if Le Monde published it also?
Why stop at one? In another incident a cabinet minister obtained a choice farm by hiring thugs to drive off youths settled on the property as part of an agricultural training programme. They were just training to be farmers, they couldn't possibly need the land. Three cabinet ministers, four provincial governors, two leading businessmen and members of Mr Mugabe's family are said in the report to have obtained farms by corrupt allocations. The "Land reform and resettlement programme national audit interim report" was completed this month, according to Africa Confidential, which obtained a copy. "We are not surprised by this report at all, it is what we've said all along, that the land seizures were benefiting those high up in Zanu-PF," Wilfred Mhanda, chairman of the Zimbabwe Liberators Platform, said. I agree, the old surprise meter never twitched. It is the first of three expected to show that Mr Mugabe's "fast track" land Yes, to that ferociously independent Zimbabwean parliament. Parliamentary sources say that a report from the parliamentary committee on agriculture and land will say that many of the poor black peasants resettled are destitute and getting poor yields because they do not have adequate seeds, tools, fertiliser and training to make good use of their new plots. Wonder where all that stuff went? The committee toured the country to look at the situation of resettled farmers. It is jointly chaired by the Zanu-PF MP Daniel McKenzie Ncube and the Movement for Democratic Change MP Renson Gasela, who is the opposition party's agriculture spokesman. Another report highlights alarming problems facing the nearly 1 million farm workers and their families who were thrown off the properties that the Mugabe Might as well just xerox the aid application, you'll be using it for years to come. | |
Posted by:Steve White |
#3 I still got Zimbabwe in the "Next African Famine" pool. Thanks, Bob. It's looking good. |
Posted by: tu3031 2003-02-22 12:09:19 |
#2 Zimbabwe used to have a healthy agricultural EXPORT based economy; now they have famine and need the rest of the world to feed them. If anyone doesn't understand "social justice," like this, think of what Stalin did to the Ukraine in the "30's. Also consider that about 90% of whatever aid gets there winds up in the hands of Mugabe or his fawning sycophant toadies. Isn't this like a subsidy for thugocracies? |
Posted by: John 2003-02-22 11:52:03 |
#1 I'd like to see copies on the room service breakfast trays for Bob, Grace, and all the other corrupt (yes, this means you, Jacques) participants in the France - We-Love-You-Africa summit. Might make for some sprayed O.J.? |
Posted by: Frank G 2003-02-22 08:37:51 |