[Cincinatus' Wife]

Public Pressure Must Come to Bear on Mugabe's Misrule [Full Text] WHITE FARMERS are being forced out of Zimbabwe, but it is President Robert Mugabe who should leave. With Zimbabweans unable to make him go, his neighbors, led by South Africa, need to encourage him to cede power. About 2,900 farmers out of 4,500 remained in their homes this weekend, hoping that Mugabe would offer them a reprieve. In a speech yesterday he renewed his vow to give most of their land to black Zimbabweans, saying: ''We set ourselves an August deadline for the redistribution of land, and that deadline stands.''

Mugabe is right that the land was expropriated unjustly when white colonialists took over the country in 1890. But Zimbabwe is no longer the sparsely populated land the whites conquered. And the farmers are responsible for Zimbabwe's strong agriculture performance. Until a few years ago Zimbabwe was able to feed its more than 12 million people and have enough food for export. Now, thanks to Mugabe's misrule, it cannot feed itself.

The best approach would be a phased transfer of land supported by foreign donations. That would not serve Mugabe's political purposes, however. Land is used as a reward for Mugabe's supporters, and the confiscations recall his struggle to wrest the country, once known as Rhodesia, from whites. Following a tainted presidential election in March, the United States and the European Union imposed travel sanctions against leading officials. These have little impact, and it would be wrong to impose harsh measures that might harm ordinary Zimbabweans.

South Africa, which borders Zimbabwe, has tried to restrain Mugabe but in an understated way. Thabo Mbeki, the South African president, is trying to create a coalition of African leaders committed to democracy. Mugabe's misrule mocks their efforts. Public pressure ought to replace quiet diplomacy.[End] Mugabe's famine - state-sponsored destruction of commercial agriculture ***Many Zimbabweans were hoping for a sign from Mr Mugabe that he would slow or halt the state-sponsored destruction of commercial agriculture. But they were disappointed. "We brook no impediment," he said in his speech, "and we will certainly suffer no avoidable delays." He accused his opponents of being "rapacious supremacists", and suggested that they should go back to Britain, the former colonial power. ***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Soccer-mad Gaddafi sees an opening*** For years he has been left out in the cold, the leader of a pariah state shunned by the international community. But now Muammar Gaddafi seems intent on speeding up his rehabilitation, not only through the slow diplomatic channels but also via soccer. After buying a share in the Italian giant, Juventus, earlier this year the Libyan leader is about to take over the financially struggling Greek first division team, PAOK Salonika.

Libyan officials say Colonel Gaddafi's love of soccer - his son Al-Saadi is an international who once dreamt of playing for Manchester United - is the main reason for ploughing money into the game. But they admit a desire to attract good publicity, which might help Libya win back its reputation, is also important. A Libyan official said on Thursday: "Libya wants to play her part in the international arena and show that she's not like people think about terrorism and all that."***