[Clive]

Perhaps there is some hope in the fact that Mozambique and Zambia had already exiled their commercial farmers and have already suffered the consequences.

Perhaps they have learned their lesson.

Also, the new commercial farmers are each buying a term of years, not a fee simple absolute in possession. This takes away some of the ideological objections to their presence.

Ownership of a term of years is not common in North America but it is very common in Great Britain. The estate can be bought and sold and mortgaged and as such can be used as security for farm loans. In Britain, the land law reforms have restricted legal titles in land to a fee simple absolute in possession and a term of years, with all other estates, demises, fees and incidents of ownership or possession sounding in equity.

Of course, the concept cannot work in a Zimbabwe governed by Mugabe and Zanu PF. There the right to possess exists only at the whim of Mugabe, his politboro and party cadre, any one of whom might unexpectedly take a fancy to your land.

Any estate in land, whether fee simple or term of years. is dependent on there being a culture of respect for the rule of law.

[happygrl]

After facing severe food shortages in recent years, last year Zambia exported 100,000 metric tons of food aid - much of it going to Zimbabwe

Unless one has lived in Southern Africa, the import of this cannot be understood.

Zambia was mocked for years by proud Zimbabweans. They were the perpetual poor relation.

Who's sorry now ?