Posted on 10/08/2007 9:29:38 PM PDT by blam
Edited on 10/08/2007 9:31:29 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Zimbabwe a laughing stock, says Mugabe
By Sebastien Berger, Southern Africa Correspondent
Last Updated: 2:50am BST 09/10/2007
[snip]
President Robert Mugabe confiscated farms from white owners
The malnutrition that afflicts millions of Zimbabweans has reduced the country to a "laughing stock", President Robert Mugabe has admitted.
Distributing equipment to black farmers resettled on land seized from white owners, he said: "We have become the laughing stock because of hunger. We all need to eat, whether you are Zanu-PF or MDC. Let's unite."
Since Mr Mugabe began confiscating farms Zimbabwe has gone from being an agricultural exporter to a country where millions need food aid. He blames supposed Western sabotage for the situation, rather than his own actions.
An international court is to be asked to rule on the seizure programme. Papers filed with the Southern Africa Development Community Tribunal accuse Mr Mugabe's regime of illegal racial discrimination and violations of human rights.
The first case to be brought before the tribunal, based in Windhoek, the Namibian capital, since it was set up seven years ago, is being described as a test for the rule of law in the region.
The action is being brought by Michael Campbell, one of the few hundred white growers left in Zimbabwe, who has suffered multiple land invasions and threats of violence at his farm in Chegutu.
As well as an urgent injunction, his representatives are seeking a declaration that the constitutional amendments behind the farm seizures are illegal.
If the tribunal rules in favour of Mr Campbell it would open the way for all the farmers dispossessed since 2000 to mount challenges of their own, although whether the court's judgment could be enforced is another matter.
One person with knowledge of the case said: "The critical thing is who gets to sit on the tribunal.
"The test for the tribunal is whether it is prepared to hold Zimbabwe to its treaty obligations."
Zim Ping.
Hey Mugabe, people wouldn't be laughing if you stopped prosecuting people for growing food.
I can't believe what I'm reading... stupid idiot. Punishing people for growing food when you are starving to death... crazy.
Excellent suggestion.
Maybe all good Zimbabwean citizens could unite, sing a few happy songs, and then put slip knots around the necks of all the SOBs who have now almost entirely destroyed the country of Zimbabwe (that would be you and your cronies, in case you're extraordinarily slow), hoist you gently from the trees, and then find new leaders who actually give a d*** to start feeding the hungry and trying to rebuild the country.
It’s not a comedy. It’s a tragedy, of the deepest order.
This is mind boggling!
ZIMBABWE
Definition 1: One of the few places in world History where the majority would be better served by pure, jungle anarchy than by the poor leadership of said country.
Let them all starve to death...especially the ones who took over the farms.
The people of Zimbabwe deserve the government they have.
In less then 30 years went from the “Bread basket of Africa” to a basket case.
I hope all that helped it to come true choke on it.
I wouldn't hold my breath.
Windhoek Lager, brewed in Windhoek, Namibia, is some dang good beer.
White Farmers on Trial for Growing Food
Ten white farmers were hauled into court in Zimbabwe charged with unauthorized growing of crops on their land. To outside observers, the charges seem bizarre. The country is experiencing severe food shortages. Millions of people will starve if food aid is not received within the next few months.
The farmers are charged with violating the “Consequential Provisions Act,” which decreed that white farmers’ land and homes be expropriated and turned over to blacks by September 30 of this year. The courtroom was crowded by dictator Robert Mugabe’s supporters demanding “their share” of the loot.
Didymus Mutasa, the Mugabe’s Lands Minister, said “Our position is that food shortages or no food shortages, we are going ahead to remove the remaining whites. Too many blacks are still clamoring for land and we will resettle them on the remaining farms.”
Thus far, the resettlement program has been a disaster. Many of the beneficiaries of the redistribution are inept or indifferent farmers. Nonetheless, Mutasa vigorously defended the policy as “necessary to stamp out the last vestiges of inequality.” “It is better that the land lie barren in the hands of blacks than continue to be exploited by whites,” Mutasa contended. “Equal suffering is preferable to having to endure any more demonstrations of white supremacy.”
read more...
http://www.azconservative.org/Semmens1.htm
Racism at its finest. Reminds me of the Rush song “Trees.”
This is mind boggling!
So do I. A few years ago someone posted an article about a white farmer who'd been murdered. There was a picture of his bedspread covered body. Curled next to him was his little Jack Russell. The man had left his farm for the safety of the city but went back to pick up a few things when he was attacked.
What an idiot this leader is. I don’t suppose he’s part of the “equal” suffering?
The parents of a friend have gone to Africa as part of the Peace Corps. The man put together a tire swing - tire, rope over a limb. Simple. It broke several times and they came to him to put it back together. Then the parents came back to the US and then eventually went back to Africa. The swing was broken again and despite having watched it being put it together numerous times, none of African’s took the initiative to do it themselves.
I actually think government programs here have created the same mentality in many people and this was evident during Katrina when so many waited for someone - anyone other than themselves - to do something. If Hillary has her way there will be a nation of people who will wait for her to put that swing back together.
No, no, no, they need to take a page from ole Nelson & Winnie Mandella and “necklace” the SOB’s.
Obviously spoken by someone who is not starving.
Zimbabwe is a good example of what happens to a country when the Crips, Bloods and Democrats seize power.
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