via White farmers: ‘Zim at crossroads’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe 4 July 2014 by Moses Matenga / Nunurai Jena
WHITE FARMERS yesterday said Zimbabwe was in a crisis that needed co-operation regardless of colour to steer the country out of the quagmire.
Responding to President Robert Mugabe’s threats on Wednesday that white farmers should go, Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU) president Charles Taffs said Zimbabwe was at a crossroads that needed everyone’s effort to bring the country to normalcy.
“My feeling is that Zimbabwe is at a crossroads and lets work together to fix it,” Taffs told NewsDay.
“As a people, regardless of colour, we must fix this as a whole, especially in the agricultural sector and across all sectors.”
Mugabe, who was speaking during the launch of the new A1 permits in Mhangura, said that he will not allow white farmers to own land in Zimbabwe warning his ministers who were protecting them to desist from that.
“I have been given a list of 35 white farmers in Mashonaland West alone and in just a few districts that have been audited.
We say no to whites owning our land and they should go. They can own companies and apartments in our towns and cities, but not the soil. It is ours and that message should ring loud and clear in Britain and the United States,” Mugabe said.
The comments irked several people who felt that Mugabe was pouring water on his recent calls for re-engagement.
Former Justice deputy minister Obert Gutu said it was sad that people were fighting other races.
“We don’t want rulers. We want leaders. We are fighting against all forms of prejudice and oppression; and this includes, but is, of course, not limited to, fighting against tribalism, regionalism and racism,” Gutu said.
Meanwhile, some newly resettled farmers stunned Mugabe on Wednesday when they told him that they preferred to partner whites.
During his address at Chipfundi in Mhangura, Mugabe asked the crowd if they were willing to work with the whites to which the “Yes” answer was more thunderous than the “No” response.
“We have 35 white commercial famers in Mashonaland West I’m told by your chairman Temba Mliswa . . . do you want them or not?” asked Mugabe to which there was a thunderous positive response.
“Eheehehe ehe ehe ehe ehe ehe (yes yes yes yes ),” chorused the crowd.
Sensing that the better part of the crowd wanted to partner whites, Mugabe warned the farmers that whites could not be trusted especially on the land issue.
But some farmers said the President’s call for his inner circles to shun the whites would fall on deaf ears as most top politicians in the province “dine with whites by night and denounce them by day”.
“Most top politicians in the province work in partnership with the whites and the president has confirmed that but the question is what he is going to do about it. That is the reason why the big politicians always get a bumper harvest,” said an A1 farmer who attended the event.
COMMENTS
Racism from “leadership” – in 2014….from so the called “educated” one….bitter, aged mind driven downwards by hatred. Soon, soon comes the last downward journey. Best scotch ready.
mugabe is so out of touch … agriculture has to be revived – it is the bedrock of this country’s potential. let all who are willing and competent participate.
mugabe must retire
Zimbabwe is not Mugabe’s. We want the white farmers and not just those who are left, we want all of them back. Our nation is not one of thieves and we have had enough suffering. Mugabe and co retire, step aside and let sanity prevail. We want the 1990’s back and we want our pride back. We want our children living abroad back home and we want a full participation by all Zimbabweans irrespective of race, colour or religion. You Governors must get this message back to Mugabe as you hear it all the time in the provinces.
This is truly a moment of madness. Mugabe madness. He had it in his hands to get all Zimbabweans of all races to work together and get the economy going. He continues to see no further than his front porch. He see all the food only in his cupboard. He see good roads that are repaired only when he is to use them. As long as we are ruled by this man that sees no further than his nose we are going no where fast.
The comment that really gets under my skin, even when it is well meant, is “We want the white farmers”. This should read – we want “Zimbabwean farmers” or we want “farmers”. There should be no distinction, every and any Zimbabwean can own land and farm.
Mugabe is no fool, he needs to build this wall up between Black and White for his own survival, he is trying to create a common enemy so he can have someone to blame for his problems. His patronising comment about “They can own companies and apartments in our towns and cities” is equally dangerous as only part of this is true and before long none will be true.
Racists like Mugabe are very dangerous and frankly should be eliminated by and sane and civil minded people.
Schizophrenic behaviour from the president,completely out of touch with realities on the ground.And clearly a liability as this country continues to wallow in dormance.
Nice French touch to the word ‘dormancy, ‘le dormance’
Maslinduna, but please let there be a ‘space’ before
a new sentence, and after a period(full stop)!
Racism from a man who received a knighthood and it was taken away from him – he will go to his grave with hating others because of the colour of their skin
Maybe Mugabe is not a racist. He seems to hate blacks as much as whites. There is equal opportunity for suffering in Zimbabwe.
Cuts off his nose to spite his face. Get real Bob, and understand that we have all moved on and for the most f Zimbabweans of any race, tribe or color, respect each other for what they are. Racism is becoming a thing of the past and its high time that our despot leader realized this.
Any medical doctor will confirm that madness is a symptom of syphillis. Have you all forgotten how in the 1980’s the terrorists brother was found dead in his mabelteign house swimming pool drowned. It was said at the time he was Sally’s lover as the effeminate mugrbage was serially impotent
Mugabe is a spent force. His day is done. This proves it.
Temba Mliswa inspired Mugabe in this rant, the thief wants to enrich himself at the expense of the nation, he didn’t steal enough on the first round of thieving back in 2000
Good on the crowd for responding in the fashion they did,hopefully the message gets through. Temba Mliswa another poisonous politician.
mugabe is not the right person to lead the country in the 21st century.
i could not believe it when the whites in zimbabwe said they agree with EU to engage zimbabwe barely a week is gone and mugabe wants them out
Pliz Grace tell your old chap it’s time up he must step down .
Mugabe is the extreme racist from the extreme left or right which ever suits one. He hates and loathes whites because he himself has proven Ian Smith RIGHT that black cant govern on their own. Mugabe has proven that when blacks are in control of a government that greed theft bribery and corruption reign supreme. He has proven that blacks not the whites in Zimbabwe are the extreme racists, He has proven that his word is neither his bond nor his conviction. In other words black men cannot be trusted ever! He has proven his heart has no forgiveness. He has proven that beyond any doubt that he cares not for the ordinary man. He has proven that he will take Zimbabwe to ruination before putting his people before him. May he die soon and go to hell.