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News | Africa | Southern Africa

Zimbabwe defies land-seizure ruling

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Dec 01 2008 08:06
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Zimbabwe's government will defy a Southern Africa tribunal ruling to stop the seizure of white-owned farms and will continue its land reforms, a state-run newspaper on Monday quoted a minister as saying.

A South African Development Community (SADC) tribunal ruled on Friday that Zimbabwe's planned seizure of dozens of white-owned farms violated international law and should be halted immediately.

It said Zimbabwe should take all measures to protect the possessions and property of 75 white farmers who challenged the legality of a contested land reform programme, and also ordered other farmers be compensated for land taken.

But Didymus Mutasa, Minister of State for National Security, Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, was quoted in theHerald newspaper as saying President Robert Mugabe's government would ignore the judgement.

"They [the tribunal] are day-dreaming because we are not going to reverse the land reform exercise," he said.

"There is nothing special about the 75 farmers and we will take more farms. It's not discrimination against farmers, but correcting land imbalances," he said.

Critics blame an economic meltdown in Zimbabwe on Mugabe's policies, including the land reform that started in 2000 and replaced white, commercial farmers with landless black Zimbabweans.

The move has led to the collapse of the country's once prosperous agricultural sector, pushing millions to the edge of famine.

Zimbabwe is suffering from an official inflation rate of 231-million percent and chronic shortages of food and fuel.

CONTINUES BELOW


SADC, a regional grouping of 15 African nations that includes Zimbabwe, has been pressuring Mugabe and the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change to move quickly to form a unity government under a September 15 power-sharing deal.

The two sides, however, have reached a deadlock over the control of key ministries in a future Cabinet. - Reuters
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The Government last week tested their own medicine when SADC Tribunal ruled in favour of 75/8 former White farmers on the land dispute.When SADC directed that MDC should co-share Home Affairs,the ruling party was delighted.The State media attacked MDC leader when he rejected the resolution as not practical and unfair.Biti wrote a letter to Mbeki telling him the SADC resolution was a nullity.Mbeki ,became furious accusing MDC of not accepting Afican soultion to African problems-thats excellent.Now SADC Tribunal has ruled that the land grab was not done 'legally'.Zanu PF must learn and know that they do not have monopoly over guiding principles and values.Just as Zanu PF will argue that the distribution of land was a necessary evil and therefore the Tribunal is day dreaming-equally to MDC the resolution of co-sharing Home Affairs is daydreaming.The point is simple SADC is not always right.MDC has a right to demand an equitable distribution of power.
Dr Robie Pastor on December 1, 2008, 12:22 pm
The land grab by Mugabwe & his thugs is the main reason why Zimbawbwe is in the position today.This together with a senial dictator who should have been thrown out of office ten years ago.
Please, SADC don't start agreeing with the rest of the world now the curtain will finnaly come down on your brother who you've been protecting for years.You all should share the same fate,get out now while you can. The world is again targeting African so called leaders for doing nothing during the last30years to improve the lives of the poor people. You are a disgrace.
David Howarth on December 2, 2008, 11:24 pm
phineas hende on December 3, 2008, 10:53 am
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