ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe's Mugabe issues new farm leases, tightens grip on land

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Thursday (November 9) handed out the first batch of 99-year leases to beneficiaries of his controversial land reforms, saying his seizure of mostly white-owned farms for blacks was irreversible. At a colourful ceremony, Mugabe distributed 125 leases to mainly new black farmers, who included a high court judge, a top state media journalist, and retired army officers, but also to a handful of whites regarded as supporters of the ruling party. "The issuance of the 99-year leases is a critical milestone in the implementation and finalisation of the land reform programme," Mugabe said. "Today, the government has demonstrated that it will not go back on the land reform programme," he added. Mugabe said the 99-year leases -- offering farmers security of tenure over what remains legally state land -- should help them secure bank loans and boost production. Agricultural officials say about two thirds of Zimbabwe's 4,500 or so white commercial farmers have been forced off their properties under a raft of laws barring them from challenging the land reform in court. Zimbabwe, once a net exporter of grain to southern Africa, has suffered food shortages over the last five years as its farming sector has been hit by a combination of drought and disruptions linked to the land seizures. Mugabe said the widely criticised land reform programme is meant to restore national dignity and Zimbabwe's sovereignty after British colonialism under which blacks had lost most of their fertile lands to whites. Mugabe said land for Zimbabweans was an issue of life and death and added "The land is ours, let us use it for our progress," The issuing of the leases was an important step in Zimbabwe's battle to control its resources and showed that it was tightening its grip on land, Mugabe said. Mugabe said his government had launched the controversial "fast-track" resettlement programme after British Prime Minister Tony Blair reneged on Britain's agreement at Zimbabwe's independence to fund farm purchases from local whites. Analysts say only about 600 white farmers have kept their land after the sometimes violent grabs by Mugabe's supporters. Critics blame the seizures for a sharp drop in agricultural production, part of a wider economic crisis that has sparked shortages of food, fuel and foreign exchange, rocketing unemployment and the world's highest inflation of more than 1,000 percent. On Thursday, Mugabe -- who rarely talks about Zimbabwe's problems without blaming them on Western opponents -- indirectly acknowledged the country had suffered a fall in farm production. Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai welcomed an initiative by churches to help end the country's political and economic crisis, but charged President Robert Mugabe was in denial and obstacle to change. Mugabe has rejected calls made by leaders of Zimbabwe's major churches two weeks ago for a new constitution, and said while he backs their drive for a national political dialogue his government had some "non-negotiable" interests. Addressing a news conference after meeting a church group that launched the document "The Zimbabwe We Want," Tsvangirai -- leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change -- said the country's salvation lies in Mugabe and his ruling party accepting responsibility for its woes. "This crisis shall remain with us unless Mugabe and ZANU-PF shift their mindset through a patriotic desire to save Zimbabwe from further haemorrhage," he said. Tsvangirai charges Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party have rigged three elections since 2000 to remain in power -- accusations firmly rejected by the government. In that time Zimbabwe has descended into a deep economic crisis, and critics blame Mugabe's policies for food, fuel and foreign currency shortages, massive unemployment and the world's highest inflation rate of over 1,000 percent. On Friday, Tsvangirai said Mugabe -- who complains of economic sabotage by his opponents -- had to address governance and rights issues at the centre of the country's crisis. "We believe the latest initiative from the church, like previous efforts by both local and international political players, shall lead us to a cul-de-sac as long as Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF remain stuck in a state of denial," he said. "A national consensus and a national vision shall remain elusive for as long as the dictatorship defines, in its own terms, what constitutes people's freedoms, people's choices and people's way of life," he added. Zimbabwean church leaders, including the influential Catholic Bishops' Conference, announced that they would lead a countrywide dialogue in the coming months on such issues as land, electoral and constitutional reforms, human rights, national reconciliation and economic policies. In a bold challenge to Mugabe, the alliance is proposing the establishment of an independent Land Commission to ensure fair distribution of land, and a review of tough media and security laws that critics say are being used to stifle the opposition. Mugabe told the church heads at the launch of their programme that he was not convinced the country needed a new constitution, and people who believed that Zimbabwe's independence constitution was imposed by Britain were wrong. Critics say Mugabe -- 82, and Zimbabwe's sole ruler since independence from Britain in 1980 -- has manipulated the national constitution to tighten his grip on power in the face of severe the economic difficulties. Mugabe generally treats demands for radical reforms as part of a drive by his opponents to oust him over his seizures and redistribution of white-owned farms to black Zimbabweans. The combative Zimbabwean leader told the churches that issues such as economic empowerment through land reforms, and the country's political independence were "non-negotiable". On Friday, Tsvangirai said: "Given the humanitarian emergencies confronting our nation, we urge the Church to press Mugabe and ZANU-PF to open the door to all in order to save Zimbabwe."

ITN Source | November 11, 2006

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