Zimbabwe land talks deadlocked


28 April 2000



Zimbabwe land talks deadlocked

ZIMBABWEAN government representatives have refused to promise an end to the violent occupation of white farms.

Efforts by British foreign secretary Robin Cook to restore calm failed to secure a breakthrough after eight hours of talks in London.

A British offer to put up 36 million to fund a land reform programme are dependent on Zimbabwes president Robert Mugabe accepting that the occupation by squatters should end.

But the Zimbabwean delegation gave no concrete commitment to end the clashes between war veterans and farmers.

The Guardian reports that the failure of talks leaves Mr Mugabe “a free hand” in the run-up to promised elections, due in May.

In its editorial, the Daily Mail argues that Britain should not be subsidising land reform in Zimbabwe while Mr Mugabe is in power.

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