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(ALLAFRICA, HERALD) Zimbabwe: Dinha Calls for Co-Existence On Farms

Zimbabwe: Dinha Calls for Co-Existence On Farms
21 April 2010

Harare — Mashonaland Central Governor and Resident Minister Advocate Martin Dinha has urged white commercial farmers to co-exist on land with their black counterparts.

Adv Dinha was speaking on Monday at the Agriculture Research Trust during a visit by a Mozambican delegation that was in Zimbabwe to familiarise itself with the land reform programme.

Said Adv Dinha: "The land reforms sought to share land between white commercial farmers and the black majority and those who accepted it are still on the farms but those who did not want to share counted the costs. In Mazoe District, we have white farmers who supported Government's land reform programme and they were also considered under the 99-year leases.

"We have farmers like Nascemento Manuel who have been very supportive of the newly-resettled black farmers.

"He has already started a horticulture project, which promotes our people and this is what we want to see with the remaining white farmers. Other white farmers who have been supportive of this programme include Bryan Townsend and Jordin Manuel and our new farmers have benefited from these farmers."

Head of the Mozambican delegation Mr Venancio Veremo said the tour was an eye-opener.

"The Government of Zimbabwe has done a lot to empower its people and the land reform is one such example of empowerment.

"We have toured farms owned by both blacks and white farmers and they are doing a good job. These white farmers understood that it was necessary for Government to redistribute land to the people.

"Other people were saying it was xenophobic but we have learnt that it was about equitable sharing of land," Mr Veremo said.

He said Mozambique had a lot to learn from Zimbabwe's empowerment programmes.

Labels: FRELIMO, LAND REFORM, MARTIN DINHA, MOZAMBIQUE, VENANCIO VEREMO

posted by MrK @ 3:28 AM