Posted on 06/24/2002 4:12:10 AM PDT by Clive
Johannesburg - The announcement by the Zimbabwean government that white-owned farms should cease operating on Monday was the last nail in the coffin of the country's economy and could have fatal consequences for the New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), the New National Party said.
The reaction came after it was announced that about 2,900 white-owned farms in Zimbabwe were ordered to cease operating on Monday after a controversial land reform law was amended to give the government sweeping powers to seize farmland for redistribution, according to Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) spokesperson Jenni Williams.
She said many of the affected farmers ignored the deadline and continued their business.
NNP spokesperson on Land Affairs issues Willem Odendaal said: "If the African Union, that will be formed next month, does not put an end to the tyrannical transgressions of the president of Zimbabwe, then Nepad will be doomed and lack credibility.
"This will result in the failure of this socio-economic plan making it just another landmark on Africa's road of deterioration."
Odendaal said president Robert Mugabe's continued draconian land reform plans would lead to the demolition of property rights in Zimbabwe.
"It will not only cause famine and poverty, but will also impact negatively on South Africa and other neighbouring countries."
He said South Africans should expect new pressure on the country's currency.
"Zimbabwe's current misery will increase and lead to more unwelcome refugees entering South Africa.
"This will place more pressure on the availability of scarce infrastructures like housing and jobs. The burden on South African taxpayers will also increase, as the government's responsibility to provide aid to Zimbabwe increases," he said.
The Democratic Alliance said on Monday marked Zimbabwe's day of shame and white farmers should stop their farming operations.
"Nothing can conceal the crude racism and tyranny that characterises Mugabe's actions. He is putting himself on a par with Idi Amin."
'Party thugs'
DA spokesperson Colin Eglin said Mugabe, often with the assistance of "party thugs", was seizing the property and destroying the livelihood of citizens belonging to Zimbabwe's white minority.
"This is what Idi Amin did to Uganda's Indian minority some 30 years ago.
"These people whose rights Mugabe is trampling on are in the main citizens of Zimbabwe. These people have had legal title to their farms," he said.
He said as Africa entered a new era marked by the inauguration next month of the African Union and the launching of Nepad there was a lesson for all to learn from the collapse of the Zimbabwe economy.
"There will be no development; indeed there will be economic retrogression and collapse unless there is good governance based on democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law and sound economic policies."
I like the comparison to Idi Amin. Mugabe's action are insane to any rational person, yet he's getting away with it. The decent Zims have to stand up as one, but they don't seem to be organizing a united game plan to overthrow Mugabe. Of course, I know that's easier said than done but the situation is critical.
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