Zimbabwe whites 'must stop farming'

BBC Africa Service ^ | June 24, 2002 | Barnaby Phillips

[Clive]

The majority of white farmers who are still in Zimbabwe are legally obliged to stop working their land from Monday, according to their union.

The Commercial Farmers' Union says that 2,900 farmers must surrender farms in line with recent changes to the law, which give the Zimbabwean Government sweeping powers to take land.

Any farmer who carries on working their land 45 days after receiving an acquisition notice could face two years in prison.

The number of farmers affected represents about 60% of the total of white farmers who were in Zimbabwe at the time that land seizures began two years ago.

Self-sufficiency

Last month the government passed the legislation, giving farmers 45 days to stop working land which has been listed for acquisition and redistribution.

War veterans have spearheaded the government's land push In theory the farmers now have another 45 days, at the end of which they must leave their properties for good.

The government was not available for comment, but a state controlled newspaper said the authorities had rejected requests from farmers that they be allowed to stay on.

Some white farmers appear to be in a defiant mood and say they will carry on farming.

One said, you can't just wind up 50 years of work in 45 days.

Donors say the food shortages now affecting millions of Zimbabweans are directly linked to the often chaotic redistribution of land.

But the government says that by taking land from white farmers and giving it to landless black peasants, it is ensuring greater self-sufficiency in the future.

[Kobyashi1942]

I'm just curious, where is President Bush while this genocide against white people is going on? Perhaps if the whites were illegal aliens coming up from Mexico they might get his attention! I got it, they should put on sombreros and dance the Mexican hat dance song! That should get his attention!

[Angelique]

One of the first steps in denying freedom is to deny property rights. With the new Act, it appears that there is no recourse for the landowners.

As stated in the article, the landowmer's appeared defiant, but there is little they can do. Too bad there is not an uprising. It is time for this to stop in Africa.

[sneakypete]

Somebody should point out to them that "Your divirsity is your strength.".

[sneakypete]

brace youselves,the US taxpayer is going to be asked, no forced, to buy food for these fools.

Nope,we will be sending them food to keep their system going. Bubba Bush is even going to spend millions providing free medicine and education to Africa.

[sneakypete]

These folks qualify for fast-track immigrant status as political refugees to the U.S.

No they don't. They are white,and they aren't a religious minority.

Where's the Bush administration??

Busy making plans to spend US taxpayer money to support and feed the Marxists and other various and assorted idiot dictators of African countries. Bubba-2 is trying to buy black votes.

[Bogey78O]

Seems as if a lot of people went from saying "That's my president!" to saying "That's my president?"

If only he were a bigger conservative. Why don't we elect Safire or something?

[dougherty]

Aren't we always the one called upon to bail these idiots out? I don't think we should give them a dime. I'm tired of our money being squandered by these crooks.

[Regulator]

There are "refugee" Hutu tribesmen in Minnesota. There ain't no doubt in my mind that middle aged experienced farmers of British stock will have no problem fitting right in here.

Don't hold yer breath waiting for the government of the United States to extend such a courtesy to people who can read, write, and speak English, and descend from the same stock as the people who started this country.

[capitan_refugio]

When I was a freshman in college, too many years ago, I dated an ex-patriot Rhodesian gal who was studying in the U.S. She traveled on a British passport, as her parent were British by birth and had emmigrated to Rhodesian. Her father had worked in the "renegade" Smith government and was retired at that time.

It was very difficult for her then, and I am sure, twenty years on, the pain of losing her country has not left her.

Welcome to FreeRepublic.

[backhoe]

Let's add the banner for lurkers & surfers:

AfricaWatch:

AfricaWatch: for AfricaWatch articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

GWELO, welcome to FR, and for what little it's worth, there were Americans like me who saw this garbage coming, and tried to get our government to cut the white-run countries in southern Africa a little slack to work out their problems free of outside interference.

Sadly, our words fell on deaf ears. It was Jimmy Carter's era of muddle-headed "human rights & malaise," and we didn't get anywhere. We did try.

[happygrl]

We weep with her. Gwelo was a smart little railroad town. Neat and clean.

Ask Clive to put you on his ping list for Zim news. Let's pray for better days...

[sneakypete]

Why don't we elect Safire or something?

Because we only get a choice between Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. This is because those are the candidates picked for us to vote for by both branches of the ruling party. Nobody else has a chance.

[OXENinFLA]

Yea, this will work and it's going to look like a Hefty bag filled w/ vegetable soup hitting a wall at 50 mph.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[CDHart]

"My God - is this just "payback" ?"

It's either colossal stupidity or an intentional move to starve the people in Zimbabwe, so that the only ones who will get food will be Mugabe's buddies. What's the status of gun control in Zimbabwe? Info would be appreciated.

Carolyn

[xJones]

Sneaky, this may make you ill but do you remember the song, "We Are the World" sung by numerous rock stars in a fund-raiser for the starving Ethiopians? All that money and food were confiscated by the corrupt Ethiopian government.

[jsraggmann]

Not a dime's wort of difference between the socialist, big-spending Rats or Pubs, although the Pubs tend to lead us down the path a little slower. Are we past the point where the ballot box can really make a difference in America? Looks to me like the same bunch of elitists is pulling the strings in both major parties.

[jsraggmann]

wort=wort, fool

[Twodees]

Your idea is sound. The influx wouldn't be any greater than what comes in over the southern border every day, probably.

There's always the possibility that the farmers won't all want to come, but those who do want to are welcome in my book.