Posted on 11/15/2004 6:29:57 PM PST by blam
Namibia farmers face land grab
By Christopher Munnion in Johannesburg
(Filed: 16/11/2004)
Namibia's white farmers were braced for a Zimbabwe-style land grab after polls opened following the retirement of President Sam Nujoma.
Voters among the 1.8 million people queued outside polling booths yesterday at the start of two days of voting which is certain to see the ruling South-West African People's Organisation (Swapo) returned to power, probably with an increased majority.
A smiling Mr Nujoma, who unsuccessfully sought to change the constitution so that he could seek a third term, was one of the first to cast his vote. "Namibians are exercising their democratic rights to ensure we continue with peace, stability and economic development", he said.
His hand-picked successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba, the lands minister who backed his land reform ideas, will enforce any policies chosen by his retired predecessor.
"He's a complete Nujoma stooge," said one opposition candidate. "Whatever Nujoma says, Pohamba will jump. Nothing will change."
Mr Nujoma, 75, Namibia's leader since independence 14 years ago, is a long-standing friend and supporter of President Robert Mugabe and, in particular, of the Zimbabwean leader's chaotic ``land reform'' policies which led to violent occupation of white-owned farms.
Ping.
A famine and the spectre of AIDS will make the land grab moot.
Yes. (See Zimbabwe.)
SA next.
Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia... next?
Do the Namibians want to starve like the Zimbabweans? Or is it that they're too ignorant to care?
With the strong leadership of the UN, there is no longer a need to couch words and phrases
in such Jimmy Carterish misleading terms.
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