Mugabe makes plea to whites

WHITE FARMERS who fled Zimbabwe are being offered the chance to return to the country under proposals being drawn up by the Mugabe administration.

Gideon Gono, the governor of the central bank and Mr Mugabe’s main policy advisor made a three hour broadcast on state radio and television.

“In order to ensure maximum productivity levels, there is great scope in the country promoting and supporting joint ventures between the new farmers and the progressive-minded former operators,” he said.

But Mr Gono was careful to say that this did not amount to a reversal of Mr Mugabe’s programme of land re-distribution of white-owned land to blacks.

Mr Mugabe has recently admitted that this years harvest was not, as previously promised, sufficient to feed the nation.

The president has since accepted a UN offer of food aid so long as no political strings are attached.

In the same broadcast Mr Gono announced a 31% devaluation of the country’s currency and banned the import of luxury goods in an attempt to reduce economic freefall.

Mr Gono is now proposing offering skilled whites and other new investor’s special guarantees of five or 10-years uninterrupted tenure backed by government force to prevent any disruptions.

During March’s election campaign Mr Mugabe proclaimed his disappointment that only 44% of the land vacated by white farmers was being farmed while the rest lay fallow.

At the start of the land seizures policy in 2000, Zimbabwe had 4500 white farmers, about 400 remain on portions of their farms.

However, many commentators view this as a clear admission that the land seizure policy has failed and that many will ignore the government’s offer.

“This shows the desperation of government to improve the economy,” John Robertson, a Zimbabwean economist told the Guardian newspaper.

“They say it is not a reversal of the land seizures, but it is. It won’t get very far.

“I don’t think many farmers will take up the offer because they will have to give up their title deeds and lease their land back,” he added.