ZIMBABWE: GOVERNMENT SEIZES 841 WHITE FARMS скачать в хорошем качестве

ZIMBABWE: GOVERNMENT SEIZES 841 WHITE FARMS

(20 Nov 1998) English/Nat As a nationwide strike threatens to cripple Zimbabwe's already fragile economy, the Government issued orders to seize eight hundred and forty one mostly white-owned farms. President Mugabe wants to hand over their land to landless black Zimbabweans. The dispatch comes as a number of white farms have already been invaded by squatters. Farm owners began receiving compulsory acquisition documents covering a total of more than two (m) million hectares (5.3 (m) million acres) of land signed by Agricultural Minister Kumbirai Kangai. The new policy is causing anger and frustration among the country's minority white farmers but is a source of jubilation for the country's black majority who say the whites stole the land years ago. Some black citizens have taken to seizing and occupying farms while the government's policy becomes implemented. About 60 black squatters armed with machetes and guns have refused to leave one private wheat farm, located 55 kilometres east of Harare, for the past ten days. Owner Rob Brown was blockaded in his homestead as squatters hoisted ruling party flags, lit fires and pounded on tribal drums at night, demanding he hand over his property. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It is completely out of control, its very very racialistic, it's life threatening. We actually had to stop the whole farming operation yesterday because the labour was threatened with axes, machetes, bangers and I was also threatened. In view of that the police were called in, they took quite some time to react which was very surprising under the circumstances. We managed to curb the situation using our local security members but its a very very worrying situation because it would appear there is a complete breakdown of law and order in this country." SUPERCAPTION: Mr Rob Brown, Farm owner Other white farmers believe it is the beginning of the end for law and order in the country. SOUNDBITE: (English) "What we see here at the moment is straight anarchy, a break- down of law and order, it is extremely worrying for the future of the country. It is my personal belief is that if it is not controlled we might have a future that we might not be proud to give to our children." SUPERCAPTION: Mr Munro - Farm owner Since independence in 1980 about seventy thousand black families have been resettled on former white-owned farms. But, the programme has been plagued by delays, mismanagement and corruption. Last month President Mugabe vowed to seize the land and pay compensation for it at a later date. In the past the government has argued that whites don't deserve compensation for the land because it was taken from the blacks during the colonial era. Many blacks believe the time has come for the whites to be removed from the land. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We want the land, we have promised each other and we can say, us with Mugabe and us with the government, we were promised and that we must be distributing the country or the land accordingly." SUPERCAPTION: Advance Mhanga Despite fears that the government's controversial land programme would disrupt food production and bring further harm to the country's already crumbling economy, many blacks want the process sped up. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Now we can say the time has arrived, its time up since we have been discussing, now we want the land." SUPERCAPTION: Advance Mhanga The Police say they are powerless to stop the squatters and many fear the new programme will lead to further civil unrest and the deaths of many white farmers. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...