Posted on 10/19/2004 3:45:16 AM PDT by Clive
HARARE - The government has seized the church-run Driefontein farm in Masvingo in clear violation of its earlier promises not to take over farms run by religious organisations.
The farm where one of the country's biggest infectious diseases hospitals, Driefontein Mission Hospital is built is owned by the Catholic Church.
The hospital is the main referral centre for tuberculosis patients in Masvingo, parts of Midlands and Mashonaland east provinces.
The government issued a Section 8 order against the farm last Friday. Under the government's Land Acquisition Act, the order is a formal notice on the church to wind up operations and vacate the property within 90 days from the date of issue.
Lands Minister Joseph Made, in charge of the land acquisition programme, could not be reached yesterday to establish whether the government also planned to take over the hospital.
An official at the Catholic Diocese of Gweru under which Driefontein falls said the church had not yet been officially informed of plans by the state to take over the farm.
He said: "We have not been advised of the intention by the government to compulsorily take over the farm. However, we will discuss the matter this coming week and see how we can respond."
Before Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, the Catholic Church built schools and hospitals at farms it owned across the country to provide education and health care services to blacks who were marginalised by the country's former white rulers.
President Robert Mugabe himself was educated at the Catholic-run Kutama Mission in his Zvimba rural home.
Out of Zimbabwe's 124 mission hospitals, 47 are run by the Catholic Church making it the country's second biggest provider of health care services after the government.
Also listed for seizure last Friday were two of the country's biggest tea and coffee estates, Aberfoyle Estate and Eastern Highlands Plantations.
The two properties, measuring 2 363 353 hectares, produce tea and washed Arabica coffee mainly for export. They are owned by London Stock Exchange-listed Plantation & General plc.
The government also ordered the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed plantation firm, Border Timbers, to surrender five timber estates measuring more than 34 154 066 hectares.
The government had said it would not seize land owned by churches, agro-firms and plantation and estate companies.
But the state has since backtracked on its word grabbing land from companies in the last three months. Most of the land has ended up in the hands of companies owned by ruling ZANU PF party politicians. - ZimOnline
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Zimbabwe was once known as the bread basket of Africa. The coming man made disaster is going to change human history.
I know a committee is horrible at running things... But I think 140,000 FReepers can run a country better than most of the world's leaders. ;-)
Zimbabwe is rapidly changing from the bread basket to the basket-case.
What the hell is the UN doing to stop the up-coming disaster in that country?
A Section 8 order. How appropriate.
Mugabee is a socialist. They will stand back, do nothing and blame the U.S. or global warming or something like that when this reaches critical mass.
Is this a Zimbabwe ping list, If so I'd like to be on it. Thanks.
I bet Mugabe is a Kerry fan like all the other socialists.
Zimbabwe is a classic case of a nation the UN should be moving on.
If the UN ignores the impending tragedy, as it seems to be doing, I've no idea why any civilzed nation would continue to support it.
Socialists hate religion especially christianity.
Before Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, the Catholic Church built schools and hospitals at farms it owned across the country to provide education and health care services to blacks who were marginalised by the country's former white rulers.
*** Interesting. I suppose he doesn't want any of the children to get educated. How Leopold-esque of Mugabe. Kick out the missionaries! Not that the Rhodesian government liked them being there either but they let them stay.
It's time to pull the plug on Africa.
Now that its under home (thugs, dictators, etc) rule its under a quick drop into its own dark age. Its time to quit sending money and just let them fight it out.
When millions die off from war and starvation, the population is weary of war and they have no food or money then maybe they will want to join the civilized world.
South Africa is next in line for the starvation train.
No the Sudan is a nation where the UN should move in and they're not. And if they're ignoring the Sudan, what makes Zimbabwe so special? The Great Dyke? I don't think anyone really cares about Zimbabwe because there's nothing there for people. So they think but Zimbabwe is rich in natural resources but only the Red Chinese have figured that out apparently.
Religion is a tool for socialists, to be used when needed to de disgarded when it becomes an encumbrance to the cause.
This is just my own opinion, but I do believe that a faith rooted in God through christian education enables a person to be free. It helps a person to be upwardly mobile and exploring his/her life. That's why socialists hate it, but then they hate ANYTHING relating to any mode of worship or spiritual practice that hints at independence. Look at Falun Gong in China. Incidentally, when I talk to old people who used to live in places in Zimbabwe, they used to hate christian missionaries because it made 'certain' people too educated and gave them grand ideas.
When Africa has wrecked itself, the Muslims will move in.
Muslim nations are in Africa. It's just a matter of time before wahabi islam moves down from the North.
I include the northern counties in Africa also.
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So now it's in the hands of the country's new black rulers.
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