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Mugabe defends farm seizures
28/02/2007 07:30 - (SA)
Windhoek - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe issued a stout defence on Tuesday of his controversial land reform programme, claiming it had been a success even if it had made more enemies than friends.
The 83-year-old Mugabe's decision to expropriate land from white farmers at the turn of the decade in what was once the bread basket of southern Africa has been widely seen as the origin of the economic crisis in Zimbabwe which now labours under inflation at around 1 600%.
But during a state banquet in Namibia, which has also expropriated white-owned farms but has paid compensation for the land, Mugabe had few regrets and blamed his country's economic woes on western sanctions imposed over accusations that elections in 2002 were rigged.
"I can safely declare that the land and resettlement plan of our government was completed successfully," he said at the dinner hosted by his Namibian counterpart Hifikepunye Pohamba.
Mugabe added the "land and resettlement programme created more enemies than friends for Zimbabwe" but said the United States and former colonial power Britain had wanted to punish his country "for daring to take our destiny into our own hands".
Mugabe has long defended the farm seizures as a move to redress the injustices of colonial times. However much of the land, which was meant to go to landless blacks, has ended up in the hands of his associates.
Namibia expropriating land
Namibia has also expropriated a handful of white-owned farms but has shelled out money for both the land and farm buildings in stark contrast to Zimbabwe, and is wary of being tarred with the same brush.
While Mugabe told Pohamaba that "we are fully behind you as you tackle the mammoth task of land reform in your own way", the Namibian leader avoided any mention of the land issue.
Pohamba did use his speech to emphasise Namibia and Zimbabwe enjoyed "excellent relations", outlining co-operation in fields such as health, education and agriculture.
He also said that Namibia was ready to offer landlocked Zimbabwe use of dry-dock storage facilities at the port of Walvis Bay.
But he also took an apparent swipe at Mugabe who has been widely accused of not only fixing elections but overseeing widescale human rights abuses.
"We must re-energise efforts to strengthen democratic governance and the rule of law for a more peaceful continent," he said.
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