Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Zimbabwe -- Cathy Buckle -- Why bother?
Cathy Buckle ^ | January 31, 2004 | Cathy Buckle

Posted on 01/31/2004 3:17:35 AM PST by Clive

Dear Family and Friends,

Every day I travel 4 kilometres to take my son to school. Sometimes by car and other times by bicycle we go along the road which has become a muddy swamp with more potholes than flat surface as the rainy season progresses.

Richard's junior school is on the outskirts of the town and just beyond it are smallholdings and plots which range in size from 4 to 22 acres. According to our Ministry of Agriculture these are known as peri urban plots and for the last couple of months there has much been much talk about the government of Zimbabwe acquiring peri urban plots to make yet more land available.

The little smallholdings beyond my son's school are already largely owned by black Zimbabweans and from these little pieces of land come fruit, vegetables, chickens, eggs and an array of bagged and bottled home produce. Every day I see these plots and smallholdings and wonder how much longer they will be there as the government just goes on and on with its seizure of land.

This week our parliament pushed through amendments to the land acquisition act. A legal parliamentary committee had clearly stated that the amendments were unconstitutional and urged against their adoption. The rights of Zimbabweans were apparently of no consequence because Zanu PF ignored the recommendations and adopted the amendments anyway. With President Mugabe's signature, the amendments will become law.

One of the amendments says that the government no longer has to serve the land owner with a notice of acquisition, now it just has to state its intention to take the land in the government gazette. The first that the land owner or smallholder will know about the loss of their home, livelihood and land will be when the men arrive at the gate.

This latest amendment to Zimbabwe's land seizures makes the business of both large and small scale food production absolutely pointless to title deed holders. It now makes no difference if you have planted a hundred acre field with tobacco or a ten acre smallholding with fruit trees. Either way there is no guarantee that you will be there in four months or four years time to harvest your crop, so why bother.

A few months ago many traditional communal farmers sat idly under trees because they could not afford to plough their land and plant a crop. Those small farmers said it didn't matter anyway because when they were hungry the international aid agencies would come and feed them.

Those same international aid organisations are now saying that the numbers of people needing food in Zimbabwe has risen from five to seven and a half million - this in a country which only has a population of 11.5 million.

As every season comes to an end and still we are starving, there is always someone else to blame. First it was the whites, then the west, then the banks and now, according to ZBC TV, the fault is with the meteorological department.

This week ZBC reported that new farmers were accusing the Met Dept of giving inaccurate weather forecasts which had resulted in farmers growing the wrong varieties of crops.

The only blame lies with our government. Those same laws that they created to stop white Zimbabweans from growing food, they can use against black farmers and plot holders who do not support them. Until title deeds are again respected under law there will be hunger and hyperinflation in Zimbabwe.

It is easy to apportion blame and even easier to obey your own constitution

Until next week, with love, cathy.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: africawatch; cathybuckle; zimbabwe
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last
To: Clive
not so easy to move capital out of SA is it? I heard that if you emigrate all you can take is 1 M rand.
21 posted on 02/01/2004 2:41:47 AM PST by oilfieldtrash
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: cyborg
"It's her home. She's not leaving for the same reasons people didn't leave a lot of other places under turmoil."

It's so awful, what's going on there. If Kofi Annan wanted to do something useful, he should have stopped Mugabe years ago.

Carolyn

22 posted on 02/01/2004 4:18:43 AM PST by CDHart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Lurker; CDHart
Lurker it's not as easy it sounds. Mugabe is a socialist darling, and tells a certain segment of the population what they want to hear.

The UN will send in troops and arrest Cathy Buckle sooner than they will arrest Mugabe. The people will have to figure it out themselves since Mugabe's done nothing 'wrong' but be a good communist leader.
23 posted on 02/01/2004 9:04:50 AM PST by cyborg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: oilfieldtrash
Not so easy to move capital out of SA

It was't so easy for Jews to move capital out of the Reich, either.

Let it go.

Sauve qui peut. It's over for the whites of SA.

24 posted on 02/01/2004 9:16:04 AM PST by Jim Noble (Now you go feed those hogs before they worry themselves into anemia!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Jim Noble
You're right,it's over for the whites and they all should cut their losses and leave.

It won't be easy but I would never raise a child in that country.

p.s.---How's the new baby doing?
25 posted on 02/01/2004 9:23:34 AM PST by Mears
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Mears
There are people raising children there all the time who won't leave. It's easy to look at people and tell them 'cut their losses'. Most people didn't leave America when it was the middle of great turmoil.
26 posted on 02/01/2004 9:27:25 AM PST by cyborg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Lurker

you are a moron..i am sorry but you have never encountered the situation she faces daily...i have...i used to live there. but by shooting people, she not only makes it bad for herself but for the other white people out there. by making others in the world aware of what is happening there through her writing at least she is doing something to help. so before u dare critise her..get a life...or try living hers!


27 posted on 05/24/2006 3:34:36 PM PDT by galliwogglesgoesawol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: galliwogglesgoesawol

No, you're probably right that Lurker has never been in Cathy's situation.
But let educate you. He's right on the money. There are people dying from starvation and it's because of the rule of one man. He's murdering thousands. He deserved to die.


28 posted on 05/24/2006 3:59:14 PM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (Vote a Straight Republican Ballot. Rid the country of dems. NRA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: galliwogglesgoesawol
Mrs. Buckle is responsible for her own situation.

Not shooting those thugs is the height of immorality. It's no better than standing by and watching the Brown Shirts smash Jewish stores up on Kristalnacht.

' Here's a clue for you newbie. It ain't white people making it bad for the productive class over there. It's a petty thug who needs a bullet in his brain pan ASAP.

Every moment she spends writing another whining letter about how bad things are is wasted time which could be spent in productive resistance to an evil regime.

As far as living her life goes, that wouldn't happen to me sweet pea. Anyone attempting to disarm me will rapidly end up dead; which is as it should be.

I don't care who disagrees with me but this woman is no one to be looked up to.

L

29 posted on 05/24/2006 6:39:39 PM PDT by Lurker (Real conservatives oppose the Presidents amnesty proposal. Help make sure it dies in the House.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

Rhodesian realitives ping.

(and an aunt in Harare)


30 posted on 05/24/2006 6:44:10 PM PDT by Shion (Jaded Southern Californian)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cyborg
It's her home. She's not leaving for the same reasons people didn't leave a lot of other places under turmoil.

Some of those farms were built brick by brick with bare hands. I understand why they don't leave.

In my in-laws case they made the bricks too. They made something out of nothing, had it taken from them and turned back into nothing.

Breaks my heart.
31 posted on 05/24/2006 6:48:22 PM PDT by Shion (Jaded Southern Californian)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Shion

Breaks mine too.


32 posted on 05/24/2006 6:49:52 PM PDT by cyborg (I just love that man.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: cyborg
Breaks mine too.

My aunt's husband killed himself after they burnt his farm and slaughered his livestock. Three generations of work, up in smoke in a day.

Her son is a game warden and has cared for the parks since he was a teenager. They just ordered him a few months ago to start killing his elephants to feed the starving villages that border the park. I'm afraid he may take his father's cue.

I want them both out, but I'd like more to take up arms with them. I just don't think there's the will to resist. The people there still think having Mugabe and starving is better than having whites in charge.
33 posted on 05/24/2006 6:58:00 PM PDT by Shion (Jaded Southern Californian)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Shion

I think a lot of people are being threatened. How can people fight when they're starving?


34 posted on 05/24/2006 6:59:18 PM PDT by cyborg (I just love that man.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Lurker

lurker..your idea is so mature i love it....but what will you do when you run out of bullets and they still have military issue? remeber they are everyone....army,doctors,everyone....you wont even know.. you are such a hero. your trigger happy outlook would get you tortured and killed quick. for goodness sake grow up. as for being a newbie pal, i may be but would rather be in the hands of the enemy than learning from you.


35 posted on 05/25/2006 12:29:33 AM PDT by galliwogglesgoesawol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Shooter 2.5

i know...i have lived there remember? i lost my home and family and everything because of what that man has done. but you cant just go around killing people out there. he has to be sorted out by the united nations...people i know have died because of him ...do you not think i have the same view about killing him? yes i would like him killed but cathy buckle cant do it herself...


36 posted on 05/25/2006 12:33:32 AM PDT by galliwogglesgoesawol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: galliwogglesgoesawol
but what will you do when you run out of bullets and they still have military issue?

Use the ammo the enemy will have so thoughtfully provided for me. They won't be needing it anymore.

remeber (sic) they are everyone

Apparently they aren't 'everyone'. Miss Buckle opposes them as does a rather sizeable opposition party. Even Hitler had opponents after all.

your trigger happy outlook would get you tortured and killed quick

It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees.

but would rather be in the hands of the enemy

You already are in the hands of the enemy. You've surrendered without even trying. It's pathetic.

L

37 posted on 05/25/2006 12:44:56 AM PDT by Lurker (Real conservatives oppose the Presidents amnesty proposal. Help make sure it dies in the House.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Lurker

no lurker...u are thinking like you would win...if you started hoofing off at all of them then they would just send in the army and sort you out. it would really be that simple. as for living on her knees ..that is her home and people live there praying that there will be a change...we live there for love...living on her knees ..maybe...but she has a son....and she cant fight this thing on her own...so by letting the world know through her eyes about what is happening at least she is helping in some way...


38 posted on 05/25/2006 12:53:45 AM PDT by galliwogglesgoesawol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: galliwogglesgoesawol

on the other hand lurker i cant believe that you feel this way and are writing these thoughts as realistic....if you are such a super hero maybe instead of critism maybe you should get off your ass and get out there and do something?
instead you are over this end in your cosy home judging her when you really have no idea what it is like ..but dont let me stop you....go be a hero..


39 posted on 05/25/2006 2:43:31 AM PDT by galliwogglesgoesawol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: galliwogglesgoesawol
he has to be sorted out by the united nations...

That's never going to happen. The UN is in bed with Mugabe- just as it was in bed with Saddam Hussein.

While Kofi Annan was ignoring Zimbabwe crisis, his son was building Harare's airport
CFP ^ | January 8, 2005 | Judi McLeod

While United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan was patently ignoring a President Robert Mugabe oppressed Zimbabwe, his son, Kojo was making money building the Zimbabwean capitol’s airport. Mugabe runs the ZANU-PF, a regime that Condoleeza Rice labels an outpost of tyranny.

Why Kojo Annan’s business activities in Zimbabwe have not surfaced in the ongoing probe of the Oil-For-Food Program should surely raise concern about both the integrity and sincerity of the investigation. It’s a global village as far as Kojo’s business agenda is concerned.

First came West Africa where Annan’s youngest son [Kojo Annan] was working for the Swiss-based Cotecna with ties to the Oil-For-Food Program. While the world was led to believe that Annan Junior came off the Cotecna payroll in 1999, he continued to cash Cotnecna’s cheques until 2004.

Morocco came next when it was revealed that Kojo Annan and Hani Yamani, bona fide Saudi national were negotiating the sale of $60 million worth of oil to a Moroccan company. Yamani is the businessman son of the powerful Sheikh Ahmed Yamani, former Saudi oil minister and OPEC founder.

In Zimbabwe, Kojo Annan and his friend and business confrere [Hani] Yamani were in bed with Leo Mugabe, nephew of President Robert Mugabe. ...


40 posted on 05/25/2006 3:11:09 AM PDT by piasa (Attitude Adjustments Offered Here Free of Charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson