Posted on 08/07/2002 1:37:16 PM PDT by Clive
Zimbabwe's government gave white farmers mixed signals today about their fate, one day before thousands face eviction orders under a land reform scheme wracked by political violence.
Joseph Msika, the vice-president who is acting president while Robert Mugabe tours Asia, warned farmers at their annual congress not to resist the land reforms. "We are aware of a small clique amongst you who are itching for continued confrontation with government and perhaps at increased levels of intensity," Msika said.
"The protagonists of this unfortunate approach should be warned that the laws of the country are paramount and will be enforced without any hesitation and with no regard to any external influence," he said.
The Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU), which represents white farmers, says 2 900 of its members, about 60% of the total, face eviction orders from midnight Thursday, under a law forced through a special session of parliament in May.
Farmers who violate the law could face up to two years' imprisonment or a 20 000- Zimbabwe dollar (R3 064) fine. Msika insisted that "no one could be rendered homeless" by the scheme, and that "there is room in this country for everyone".
Government officials have been unable to say how many farmers will be forced off their land from Friday. Ignatius Chombo, the minister for local government, told reporters after CFU's congress meeting that "only a portion of the farming community" is affected by the deadline, declining to offer an estimate of how many.
Colin Cloete, the CFU president, asked the government to review its plans, which farmers say affect more than 95% of white-owned farms. "Perhaps on the basis of a moratorium, the government could suspend the present policy... and bring about a more productive and transparent solution to the land question," Cloete said. - Sapa-AFP
"Praise the Lord and pass the ammo."
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