Centerfield

Mugabe Admits Failure

When Marxist guerilla leader Robert Mugabe became the first President of Zimbabwe, he pursued a surprisingly moderate course with regard to white property owners, encouraging them to stay in the country. Then, more recently, he reverted to a more radical posture and encouraged the seizure of land from white farmers. Widely criticized at the time, even he now admits that the benefits of his initiative have not lived up to his expectations.

"President Mugabe expressed disappointment with the land use, saying only 44 per cent of the land distributed is being fully utilised," state television reported. "He warned the farmers that the government will not hesitate to redistribute land that is not being utilised."
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The new farmers are unable to raise bank loans because their properties are formally owned by the government and they have no individual title deeds. Without loans, they cannot buy seed, fertiliser or farming equipment and the regime has broken a pledge to supply them with tools.

I heard echoes of the disastrous collectivization of agriculture in the Soviet Union in the 1930's.

Posted by rickheller at March 23, 2005 01:44 PM