DATE=5/8/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=ZIMBABWE / CRISIS
NUMBER=5-46272
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=HARARE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The crisis in Zimbabwe appears to be
deepening, following the killing of a third white
farmer and a call by the leader of
the war veterans involved in the occupation of white-
owned farms for the expulsion of British passport
holders. Southern Africa Correspondent Alex Belida
reports about the increasing tension from Harare.
TEXT:
/// SOUND FROM ZANU P-F RALLY, SINGING AND CHANTS -
FADE UNDER ///
Zimbabwe's ruling party faithful - ZANU P-F supporters
at a rally - sing revolutionary songs and chant
slogans against the opposition and what they see as
British imperialism. They voice strong backing for
the war veterans who have seized hundreds of white-
owned farms around the country. They also lavish
praise on President Robert Mugabe, the only leader
Zimbabwe has known in the 20-years since its
independence.
/// CHANTS FADE UP - "DOWN WITH BRITISH IMPERIALISM"
- FADE UNDER ///
It is the 76-year-old Mr. Mugabe who has set the tone
for the latest crisis in Zimbabwe. The land seizures
are seen as part of his campaign for the country's
coming parliamentary elections. So, too, are his
government's increasingly hostile verbal
confrontations with Britain, the former colonial
power.
Analysts say that in the face of growing popular
discontent over a sagging economy, government
mismanagement and official corruption, Zimbabwe's
voters have been flocking to the new opposition
Movement for Democratic Change. To halt the rot, Mr.
Mugabe has demonstrated that he will do anything --
even condone 'dirty tricks' -- to retain his grip on
power.
One diplomat points to statements made by Mr. Mugabe
which are then followed in short order by actions by
his radical followers.
The latest example involves the threat by the leader
of Zimbabwe's independence war veterans to round up
and expel British passport holders. The group's
leader, Chenjerai Hunzvi, unveiled the plan in an
interview immediately after conveying the same
message, for the first time, at a ZANU P-F rally
outside Harare.
/// HUNZVI ACT ///
This is not Zimbabwe-Britain. This is Zimbabwe
on-its-own. We are now going to search for
those people with British passports to leave our
country.
/// END ACT ///
Diplomats say it is no coincidence that Mr. Hunzvi's
statement follows remarks by President Mugabe inviting
the country's increasingly fearful white farmers, many
of whom are of British origin, to leave if they do not
like what is happening in Zimbabwe:
/// MUGABE ACT ///
Of course, if there is going to be resistance,
then we might go much further and say, ah, you
do not in fact acknowledge the justice of our
case and if you do not, then you are not, from
every angle, fit to be one of us. And we can
also assist in fact by showing them the various
ways they can leave the territory. (Cheers)
/// END ACT ///
The relative of one white farm owner says the pressure
is becoming unbearable. With whites viewed as key
supporters of the opposition, white farmers have been
killed and several others injured in confrontations
with war veterans and others occupying their
properties.
Farmers are reporting that squatters are taking
livestock, commandeering vehicles, and demanding cash.
Some farm families are now opting to leave the country
-- either temporarily or for good.
Black farm workers also are being targeted for
intimidation - apparently to ensure their continued
allegiance to ZANU P-F, which analysts say appears to
have lost absolute control over its traditional
support-base among rural voters.
In addition, the urban black middle-class is coming
under criticism for abandoning the ruling party.
Activists of the opposition trade-union rooted
Movement for Democratic Change are being attacked,
arrested, and harassed
It is not clear if the tactics will work.
This 64-year-old farm foreman, whose identity is being
withheld to protect him against possible reprisals,
says he does not like what is happening. He does not
like to discuss politics, but when pressed he says the
Mugabe government is no longer behaving rationally,
and that has him and others worried. He believes
things must change.
/// FARM WORKER ACT ///
Most of the people, you see, they are very much
worried because things must change. For sure,
because it is a long time since we had this
independence. It is 20-years since the country
has grown up and we are getting nowhere, we are
not getting anything at all. We are still at
square one.
/// END ACT ///
Government supporters respond to such criticism by
saying outside forces have conspired to prevent
Zimbabwe from fulfilling the promise of its original
independence struggle. They say this has left control
of much of the country's most fertile land in the
hands of about 45-hundred white commercial farmers.
They say this is an injustice to the hundreds-of-
thousands of poor blacks that have no land of their
own.
ZANU P-F officials call what is happening now a new
phase of the independence revolution - an economic
revolution centered on land redistribution. They are
convinced this new campaign will lead the ruling party
to victory come election day. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH/RAE
08-May-2000 12:08 PM EDT (08-May-2000 1608 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
