Mugabe gives land to military
2005-08-09 20:12
Special Report
Zimbabwe has released three Botswana game rangers who strayed across its borders while tracking wild animals, causing a diplomatic stand-off between the two countries, a report says.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he doesn't expect the US sanctions on his country to be lifted soon.
Harare - About 6,000 members of the Zimbabwean military are to receive plots under the government's land reform program, President Robert Mugabe said on Tuesday.
Mugabe told thousands gathered at a Harare stadium to mark Defense Forces Day that some members of the military had been given land under the program launched five years ago.
"I understand that close to 6 000 members of the defence forces are still to benefit," Mugabe said. "The responsible authorities are looking into the matter with a view to allocating land to these remaining deserving cadres."
About 4 000 white-owned commercial farms were seized under the land reform progam and given to landless blacks.
Mugabe also said that 600 military personnel would get new homes under the government's housing reconstruction program launched following the 10-week demolitions campaign that ended in late July.
About 700 000 Zimbaweans lost their homes or their livelihoods, or both, during the two-pronged Operation Restore Order and Operation Murambatsvina, or Drive out Filth, according to a UN report released last month.
- AFP