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| Africa: Southern |
| Zimbabwe claims farmers’ tractors |
| 2003-12-19 |
| Zimbabwe has introduced rules which allow it to seize equipment from white farmers thrown off their land. The government had accused those who lost their land of deliberately sabotaging or hiding their equipment to frustrate the government. A white farmers’ organisation spokesman said many displaced farmers stored their equipment or sold it to survive. A presidential decree allows the ministry of agriculture and its officers to enter any land or premises to find out if there is any farm equipment or materials not being used for agricultural purposes. The decree also said that owners who sold, damaged or immobilised their machinery face an equivalent fine or up to two years imprisonment. John Worsely-Worswick of the agricultural farmers’ organisation said: "It is suddenly a crime to have a piece of equipment you cannot use because you have been forced off your farm." Although the government said compensation could be claimed for all property handed over, Mr Worsely-Worswick said owners of such equipment were sceptical because the government had yet to compensate for seized land. He said the notice violated constitutional rights of ownership. "This is daylight robbery. It is vindictive and intimidatory. Mugabe is keen we give up altogether and pack and go," he said. Lawyers for the Commercial Farmers Union which represents some white farmers were studying the decree. The often violent farm seizures, and unpredictable rains, have been blamed for damaging Zimbabwe’s agricultural-based economy. This has led to inflation, unemployment and acute shortages of food and essential goods in Zimbabwe. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #9 When the famine comes, we can send all our good white liberals Yummm. The other white meat. |
| Posted by: ed 2003-12-19 10:41:02 PM |
| #8 When I first read about this type of scenario, it was in Atlas Shrugged. At the time I just thought it was a plot device. Wonders never cease! |
| Posted by: Baised Observer 2003-12-19 9:37:30 PM |
| #7 If only they had convienent access to the sea. Oe MAU could of settled this a long time ago. Not to put the long dead white regime in power but to try and establish something that works. Just rename the freaking country ZimBOB'Sway |
| Posted by: Cheddarhead 2003-12-19 7:12:03 PM |
| #6 After a few of the war vetrans get chopped up in the threshers the product will locally known as Zimbabwemoistha. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-12-19 3:20:01 PM |
| #5 After a few of the war vetrans get chopped up in the threshers, I expect to see new legislation requiring the whites to train the vets how to operate the equipment. The result will be a pertetual servitude of the whites to the vets who will continuously claim to need more training. I also expect the vets to claim sabotage when the engines of the machinery begin to throw rods due to lack of preventive maintenance. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-12-19 11:35:45 AM |
| #4 Good luck enforcing that on the farmers who've already left to set up shop in Zambia and Mozambique. Bob continues to whip up the anti-white hatred amongst his supporters as he buys time.
When the famine comes, we can send all our good white liberals over to Zimbabwe to sing 'for the children.' Kill two birds with one stone. Dead liberals, and we don.t have to listen to their jerking off about how the collapse of Zimbabwe is due to US Imperialism (TM). Sounds like a plan to me. |
| Posted by: badanov 2003-12-19 6:53:49 AM |
| #3 The decree also said that owners who sold, damaged or immobilised their machinery face an equivalent fine or up to two years imprisonment. Meaning they're also liable for equipment that was vandalized, stripped, or dragged out by the "war vets" and left to rust. Bob continues to look for scapegoats. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2003-12-19 1:29:53 AM |
| #2 While I sympathize with John W-W's plight, he's trying to argue law with a guy who can make up any law he pleases. Considering Bob's increasing irrationality, John has probably stayed too long already. |
| Posted by: PBMcL 2003-12-19 1:23:29 AM |
| #1 The decree also said that owners who sold, damaged or immobilised their machinery face an equivalent fine or up to two years imprisonment. Good luck enforcing that on the farmers who've already left to set up shop in Zambia and Mozambique. Bob continues to whip up the anti-white hatred amongst his supporters as he buys time. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-12-19 12:38:01 AM |