Malawi minister offers land to Zimbabwe's farmers

SAPA-AP via SABC News (SA) ^ | August 15, 2002

[Clive]

A top Malawian agricultural official called on his government today to give land to Zimbabwe's evicted white farmers so they could help develop local agriculture and ease the country's hunger crisis.

Andrew Chioza, deputy minister for agriculture, said the country's farm industry would thrive under the guidance of Zimbabwe's white commercial farmers, now facing eviction from their homes under Zimbabwe's land redistribution programme.

Not only could Zimbabwean farmers help lessen a severe food shortage threatening three million people with starvation, they also could provide desperately needed jobs in the impoverished southern African country, he said.

Chioza said the potential for a booming farm industry was vast, with large swaths of land lying fallow, and other areas under-utilised. However, the country lacked the needed investment. Other southern African countries, including Zambia and Mozambique, have already made overtures to Zimbabwe's white farmers.

Malawi's land laws, which bar foreigners from owning land unless partnering with a Malawi citizen, could complicate efforts to lure Zimbabwe's white farmers.

An editorial in the Daily Times newspaper today lashed the idea. "There is no land to give away in Malawi," it said. - Sapa-AP

[Clive]

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[lambo]

Someone in Africa understands the free market?

[goodieD]

Honestly..is that place ever going to become something less than an infested stinkhole? Before the end of the world I mean...

[Hugin]

Chioza said the potential for a booming farm industry was vast, with large swaths of land lying fallow, and other areas under-utilised. However, the country lacked the needed investment. Other southern African countries, including Zambia and Mozambique, have already made overtures to Zimbabwe's white farmers.

Interesting. There may be some hope for the Dark Continent after all.

[TomGuy]

An editorial in the Daily Times newspaper today lashed the idea. "There is no land to give away in Malawi," it said.

Interpretation: We would rather starve millions than allow "whites" to use the land.

Brings to mind the old adage: Cutting off one's nose to spite his face.

[Travis McGee]

What fool would take the word of another African regime and pour their sweat and blood into another farm, only to be kicked off again in 10 or 15 years?

[Great Dane]

No doubt the farmers will be offered some dead useless land, in 10 years time it will be fertile land, and Mugabe will move in and evict them again, with the same old excuse.

[Great Dane]

Oops, didn't read careful enough, I thought Zimbabwe was offering land.

[crystalk]

My information is that these farmers should accept the offer of ZAMBIA, no others, and move there temporarily, perhaps farming on a smaller scale than they did in Rhodesia.

A few years from now, the mess in Zim will be such that they--or anyone-- can have the whole country for the taking. THEN will be their hour, and perhaps even South Africa can be brought round again.

[Great Dane]

#10....... Sounds good, the turn-around can't come soon enough.

[Hugin]

Maybe some African leaders will realize that those African countries that hold onto their white residents are prospering and those that don't aren't. It sounds like some of them may aready be realizing that. Anyway it's the most positive thing I've heard about Africa in a while.

[Travis McGee]

Once bitten, twice shy.