DATE=5/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ZIMBABWE / FARMS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261933
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=HARARE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, is
rejecting international criticism over the seizure of
white-owned farms in his country by independence war
veterans and other landless blacks. V-O-A Southern
Africa Correspondent Alex Belida reports from Harare.
TEXT:
/// ZANU P-F CHANTS LED BY MUGABE, FADE
AFTER "BRITISH IMPERIALISM" ///
It was a triumphant and unrepentant Mr. Mugabe who
appeared before scores of supporters in Harare for the
formal launch of his ruling ZANU P-F party's manifesto
for the coming parliamentary elections.
Playing heavily on land-related issues important to
Zimbabwean voters, Mr. Mugabe used the occasion to say
that he has no intention of ordering war veterans
and other poor black squatters off the hundreds of
white-owned farms they currently occupy.
/// MUGABE ACT ///
Let no one ever think that we will call upon the
war veterans to withdraw unless that which they
seek has been obtained. They have said to the
farmers, `you want us to backtrack. We
backtrack to what place? Back to the communal
areas? Of course, there is no place for us.
So give us farms to backtrack to.'
/// END ACT ///
The Zimbabwean leader also used the occasion to lash
out at the former colonial power, Britain, for -- in
his words -- trying to dictate Zimbabwe's affairs 20
years after the country's independence. He rejected
criticism from Britain and the Commonwealth group over
recent political violence related to land seizures.
He said even the threat of sanctions will have no
effect on his policies.
/// MUGABE ACT ///
They are talking about Zimbabwe and wanting to
direct our affairs -- talking to various
organizations, various countries, seeking
sanctions against us. Ah, no sanction of
whatever nature can make us desist from our
quest for our land.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Mugabe said his party's plan is to reclaim about
half of the 12-million hectares currently in the hands
of about four-thousand white commercial farm owners.
He repeated his offer to pay compensation for
improvements to the properties but said again
Zimbabwe's authorities will not pay for the land
itself.
And he said white farmers are free to leave the
country if they do not like what is happening.
/// OPT // MUGABE ACT ///
They are free to make their choice. And we can
also assist in fact by showing them the various
ways they can leave the territory. (Cheers)
/// END OPT ACT ///
Opposition party officials and diplomats have accused
Mr. Mugabe of orchestrating the land seizures, as well
as a confrontation with Britain, in a bid to shore up
the sagging popularity of his ruling ZANU P-F party,
whose policies have been linked to the country's
latest economic problems.
/// REST OPT ///
Mr. Mugabe, now 76 years old, and ZANU P-F have been
in power for the past 20 years. But popular
discontent with his administration has risen along
with the country's high inflation, interest, and
unemployment rates -- bolstering the election
prospects of the recently formed Movement for
Democratic Change.
Mr. Mugabe dismissed his M-D-C opponents as amateurs
and suggested the party's leaders are colluding with
whites against the interests of the country's black
majority. (Signed)
NEB/BEL/JWH/JP
03-May-2000 11:32 AM EDT (03-May-2000 1532 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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