Zim/SA on collision course over farmers' arrest

Zimbabwe Independent ^ | August 23, 2002 | Loughty Dube

[Clive]

ZIMBABWE is headed for a diplomatic showdown with South Africa over the arrest of three South African white commercial farmers last week, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt.

The arrest of the three farmers sparked debate in the South African parliament on Tuesday with opposition members ofparliament urging Presi-dent Thabo Mbeki to intervene on behalf of citizens arrested in Zimbabwe.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday called for a special debate on Zimbabwe at the National Assembly. The arrested include Crawford von Abo, a Mr Veldman and another yet to be named South African. Von Abo, who is a former chairman of the South Africa Maize Board and also a member of the Wheat Board, owns Fauna Ranch - 100km north of Beitbridge in Matabeleland South. Von Abo appeared in a Mwenezi court this week and was remanded on $10 000 bail to September 18 to answer charges of defying a Section 8 order.

Reports from South Africa say the South African Foreign Affairs department has approached the Zimbabwe Foreign ministry and made representations over six farms owned by South Africans in the country. South African Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ronnie Mamoepa, said from South Africa this week they were doing everything possible to protect the interests of their citizens in Zimbabwe through their High Commission in Harare.

"The High Commission is assisting the South African citizens in terms of consular services provided to all South Africans abroad," Mamoepa said. "The High Commission has also approached the Zimbabwean Foreign ministry regarding the listing for resettlement of six farms owned by South Africans."

Efforts to contact the South African High Commissioner in Harare proved fruitless by the time of going to press. Opposition political parties in South Africa on Tuesday moved several motions in the National Assembly urging Mbeki to act on Zimbabwe.

The DA spokesman onrural safety, Andries Bo-tha, urged the government to take a strong stand onthe unfolding Zimbabwe-an crisis. "The DA regards it as extremely important that the SA government ensures the safety of its citizens in the midst of the lawlessness in Zimbabwe," said Botha.

"South Africa should make it abundantly clear that it will not hesitate to use all diplomatic means at its disposal to protect its citizens and President Thabo Mbeki must break his chronic silence on the issue."

The South African Foreign Affairs department says it is still looking into the matter and might issue a statement later.

Adriaan van Jaarsveld of the New National Party said the takeover of the farms violated an agreement between Zimbabwe and South Africa which guaranteed protection ofSouth African-owned property in Zimbabwe.

Agri-SA president Japie Grobler was quoted as saying developments in Zimbabwe placed a serious question mark on the seriousness of the Commonwealth and the African Union. "The high expectations which friends of Africa and potential investors have regarding the praiseworthy Nepad initiative will surely be detrimentally affected," said Grobler.

[Clive]

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[End The Hypocrisy]

Since Jesse Jackson, Sharpton, and the rest of the clan (and they are a racist klan) ignore the plights of black slaves in Sudan, I suppose it's only fair that they ignore the plights of South Africans in Zimbabwe. How is it that the world rallied against Apartheid though, but not against slavery in countries such as Sudan?

[Carry_Okie]

South Africa should make it abundantly clear that it will not hesitate to use all diplomatic means at its disposal to protect its citizens and President Thabo Mbeki must break his chronic silence on the issue.

Who does he think he's kidding? "Should"??? Gimme a break. He and his buddies are next. The life of every white person in South Africa is forfeit.

It's only a matter of time.

[sarasmom]

"Who does he think he's kidding? "Should"??? Gimme a break. He and his buddies are next. The life of every white person in South Africa is forfeit."

True

Another truth is South Africa believes it is the duty of every white person of the entire world to support their failed racist policies.When has Africa not been starving?

Can anyone give me a rational explanation as to why I, or anyone else, should care anymore? The participants in this situation seem to accept brutalality as a matter of course.Should I attempt to force my views to the contrary on them? Wouldnt I be attempting to subjugate them to another form of colonialism? Definately not a UN approved PC attitude.

I make no attempt to apologise for my lack of empathy for the lost continent. I feel no racial guilt.Anger and revulsion is appropriate and needed now.

[lizma]

Another truth is South Africa believes it is the duty of every white person of the entire world to support their failed racist policies.

In the first year after Mandela became president, reported crimes increased in some areas and categories by as much as 75 percent.

In 1997, there were 24,588 murders, 52,160 cases of rape, 249,375 home burglaries and 13,011 carjackings.

Statistics now show that in this country of 43 million people there is a murder or attempted murder every 12 minutes, and a rape every 26 seconds.

More than 230 policemen were killed in 1998; by early May of 1999, 77 more had been killed.

"Killing policemen in our country has almost become a national sport," said South African Police Service Chief Executive Officer Meyer Kahn.

I read recently South Africa had the highest per capita murder and rape rate in the world. What kind of progress is that?

Adopt a constitiution such as ours and the rule of law they would flourish. They have the resources.

[backhoe]

I read recently South Africa had the highest per capita murder and rape rate in the world. What kind of progress is that?

From Ken Hamblin's site:

South African Crime Report