World Bank injects $74m into Zim agriculture

"We are not yet at a stage to deal with government directly but we consult them"

Because you haven't dealt with them since 2001 because of ZDERA which does not permit you to assist Zim by further loans, debt relief,or debt cancellation!

Mugabe and his "inner circle" is the Zimbabwean government! The Zimbabwean governemnt governs the country but has been doing that with little resources due to the lack of foreign aud from international monetry institutions because of ZDERA!
"The bank hopes the money will help 700 000 farmers, said Rohrbach."

WOW, i thoght all the land belonged to Mugabe!! So i guess that, because there are 700 000 farmers to be assisted, then the land redistribution was genuine!

Let's do the maths,

5000 white farmers used to own the richest land but now 700 000 farmers own land!! That means Mugabe has given +-695 000 people land!! Not bad without financial aid!!!

"Black farmers resettled on the land have received little government support, while banks have been unwilling to offer them loans without legal guarantees on ownership of the land."

The hypocracy of the west is slowly coming out!! They initially lied to the world and said the farms have been seized by Mugabe and his "cronies", now they are saying black farmers settled there!! That, in itself, is admittance that the land redistribution was genuine

they then go on to say that the black farmers have recieved no aid from government!! Tie the fact that the IMF, World Bank and other major financial institutions have not given the government aid and then tell me how can these farmers be supported when Internation financial organisations refuse to give the Government of Zimbabwe financial aid?

where does the zimbabwean gvmnt get its funds from?!!

Drop the Rhodesian white farmers and support the "real" Zimbabwean farmers for a change!

Amen. The exacerbating food crisis now recognises the importance of revitalising the "bread-basket" after years of demonising the Zim government for decolonising its country.

The declining farming situation over the past two decades was a direct result of the West turning its back on Zim, while putting pressure on financial institutions to withhold support. All this so that President Mugabe would cave in and return the country to the British. They however, underestimated Mugabe's staying power and the respect and admiration afforded him as a result of him doing what ALL African leaders want to do but dont because they fear the consequences.

We need not be disillusioned and believe that the World Bank really has the best interest of Zimbabwean farmers at heart. As a tool of the Western/Northern nations the Bank has emerged as a major tool in the exploitation and neo-colonisation of developing countries. So, while we should welcome their "Aid" we should take precautions to ensure that the Bank is not just "helping" themselves to low-cost access to the fruits of Zim land.

You people are truly frightening, and I would encourage donors to read these columns and their comments, from uninformed people like 2Boy the One, Zodwa Sibanda, and Life Observer. You pick up 'sound bites' which you like, and select bits of 'truth' which you cobble together to make your version of reality.

Try to get it straight; If the West turned its back on Zim for the last 20 years (since 1990? for example?) then how is it that Zim owes the WB Group alone, over USD 1.2 BILLION!!! Forget the money from the IMF, forget the IFC, forget the over USD 2Billion to the Paris Club members, forget all the 'private' loans.

By and large there are few Zimbabwean black farmers; there are a few successful commercial farmers who are also suffering under Mugabe, and a number who have had their land seized as well, so the Foreign support is not just for white farmers. The remainder of the farmers are either communal, who are limping along, or subsistence farmers who are starving and who await handouts from the much maligned 'west'.

I lived there for 7 years having just left. I saw with my own eyes, the devastation, the hundreds of km of land lying filled with weeds instead of crops; I saw the new 'Baas', in his Hummer or BMW pull up for his weekend braai. And these weren't white guys.

Farming is a profession just as important as any other and the knowledge, experience and awareness of the components of this profession go far beyond the colour of your skin.

You guys with your half-baked thoughts are dangerous. A quote from something I read recently "the more ignorant and oppressed a people are, the more likely they are to blame someone else for their problems'

If the shoe fits, wear it

Also try to get your minds around the concept that the WB, IMF groups are the Lenders of Last Recource; they lend when commercial banks and other institutions do not consider the borrower to be sufficiently trustworthy to repay the debt.