Harare — PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has ordered police to arrest people spearheading the new wave of farm invasions, saying land grabbing was retrogressive to national development.
Addressing a consultative stakeholders' forum on Friday, Tsvangirai said the invasions were impacting negatively on agricultural production and the economy in general.
Over 100 white-owned farms have been invaded in the past month alone despite the signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) last year and formation of the inclusive government last month.
Tsvangirai said he had tasked the co-Ministers of Home Affairs Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi to ensure that all crimes committed on the farms were dealt with.
"Indeed, this government is aware that most of the ongoing disruptions of agricultural production, which are being done in the name of land reform process, are actually acts of theft using fraudulent letters," Tsvangirai said.
"Those continuing to undertake these activities will be arrested and face justice in the courts."
Tsvangirai's directive to arrest farm invaders comes a week after members of the Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) pleaded with him to intervene.
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena refused to comment on when police were likely to start acting on the orders.
"I don't have a comment. If they (Tsvangirai and the Ministers of Home Affairs) have spoken at that level I can't comment," said Bvudzijena.
Efforts to get clarification from Mohadi and Mutsekwa on when the police would act against the invaders were fruitless.
Tsvangirai's efforts to restore normalcy in agriculture, pits him against President Robert Mugabe who vowed on his 85th birthday last month that farm occupations would continue.
Ironically, the offensive against the white farmers started soon after Tsvangirai was sworn-in as Prime Minister last month.
It is widely believed that the invasions are being sponsored by some hardliners in Zanu PF who are determined to see the collapse of the inclusive government.
They are increasing pressure on the few remaining white commercial farmers to leave their land.
Many have since gone into hiding fearing for their lives as Zanu PF militias continue to cause havoc in the once productive farms.
Tsvangirai has emphasized the need to restore the rule of law saying it was key for the revival of the country's battered economy.
"For there can be no economic growth without the rule of law, and without economic growth this government will not be able to fully address the humanitarian crisis our country faces," Tsvangirai told stakeholders from civil society, business community, employers, gender and development partners.
The country's manufacturing industry is on its knees, unemployment tops 85% while over seven million people need food aid.
Schools and hospitals had closed their doors until recently when the government of national unity (GNU) was formed.
The Prime Minister said national development must not be retarded by the fact that the government was bankrupt.
He said restoring the rule of law, peaceful co-existence after nine years of political tension and passing legislation that that promotes investor confidence would not cost anything.
Comments 1 to 5 of 15 Post a comment
I'd say it's a bit too late to worry about white farmers in Zim. It would be better to be talking about how to get the traitorous Mugabe out and find some TRUE African sons to run Zim. Africa is somewhat tired of "Presidents for Life" who stay long past their time as Mugabe done and wreck everything in sight. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Idi Amin, Mugabe. All will be on the same page in history books 25 years from now. Criminals.
" .. All will be on the same page in history books 25 years from now. ..."
Strange thing about "history": It really depends on who writes it. For instance, if Hitler had been victorious, we would be singing praises to a different set of heroes.
Have no fear: The natives revere as heroes the valiant Al Hajji Idi Amin Dada, Shaka, Nzingha, Lobengula, the mama warriors of Dahomey, Cleopatra, Nehanda, Cde Mugabe ... That, my people, is THE history that matters to the African Child.
The predatory rhodies may have other ideas. Keep them.
The rhodies may not applaud when the natives' history books list among the villains names such as Queen Victoria, the rat named cecil rhodes and the racist Winston Churchill. Who cares!
Chokora, you disgust me... not only do you falsely claim that there was nearly 1 million children raped in the UK last year, but now you say that Idi Amin is your hero... a man who's rule was characterized by human rights abuses, political repression, ethnic persecution and extrajudicial killings leading to the deaths of of 100,000 people. What sort of person are you that promotes this barbaric inhumane behavior?
By the way..... that figure of 100,000 is a very conservative estimate, with some estimates up towards the half million mark. Thats ALOT OF PEOPLE!
Did you hear and understand the man, boy?
Chokora said we don't care about rhodie historiography, annals or opinions.
What is unclear in that sun clear statement?
What?
See All Comments