Western nations have refused to back Mugabe’s land reforms because they allege the land redistribution exercise is only benefiting supporters of the veteran Zimbabwean leader.
The reforms have been blamed for triggering wanton violence on farms by veterans of the country’s 1970s war of independence and land-hungry supporters of the governing party, as well severe food shortages which have left millions of Zimbabweans threatened with starvation.
About 250 white commercial farmers out of about 4,500 have fled Zimbabwe since the violent seizures, which have largely gone unpunished, began in earnest in February 2000.
Another 250 have been chased off the farms since the March presidential election despite a government directive that they be allowed 90 days to vacate properties listed for resettlement.
A spokesman for the Commercial Farmers’ Union this week said the union supported the model A2 land reforms as long as they were legal and above board.
By David Masunda Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Financial Gazette
Article reprinted, courtesy of The Financial Gazette, Southern Africa’s Leading Business and Financial Newspaper. http://www.fingaz.co.zw
The reforms have been blamed for triggering wanton violence on farms by veterans of the country’s 1970s war of independence and land-hungry supporters of the governing party, as well severe food shortages which have left millions of Zimbabweans threatened with starvation.
About 250 white commercial farmers out of about 4,500 have fled Zimbabwe since the violent seizures, which have largely gone unpunished, began in earnest in February 2000.
Another 250 have been chased off the farms since the March presidential election despite a government directive that they be allowed 90 days to vacate properties listed for resettlement.
A spokesman for the Commercial Farmers’ Union this week said the union supported the model A2 land reforms as long as they were legal and above board.
By David Masunda Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Financial Gazette
Article reprinted, courtesy of The Financial Gazette, Southern Africa’s Leading Business and Financial Newspaper. http://www.fingaz.co.zw