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Zambia is now the breadbasket of Africa? That has not been in the news. That's good for Zambia. Zimbabwe needs to get it's act together politically. That could still be a long time coming.
Mnangwawa aptly nicknamed "the Crocodile" is , simply put, a criminal, responsible for mass murder, and as former Mugabe's bodyguard , has executed from his own hand countless opponents, blacks or whites. And loo and behold! all the Conservatives-who would have been pro-Ian Smith 40 years ago- are rejoicing! this world is becoming raving mad...
Mugabe's regime tried to bring back the white farmers it originally kicked out of the country. For better or worse, Zimbabwe's economy has always been heavily dependent on the agricultural sector and those white farmers were the main producers. Once they were kicked out basically overnight, the entire agricultural sector went down the drains taking the rest of Zimbabwe's economy along.
Neighboring countries began to court Zimbabwe's white farmers and Zambia, which is north of Zimbabwe, attracted enough of them that right now Zambia enjoys the 'title' that once was enjoyed by Zimbabwe, in short it became the breadbasket of Africa.
In order for Zimbabwe to get back on its economic feet, it needs its agricultural sector to get back on its own feet and remain strong. The people with the know-how are precisely Zimbabwe's white farmers that now are spread through out Africa making other countries more prosperous, a prosperity that should had been Zimbabwe's to begin with.
Zimbabwe can also try to develop a new group of highly effective farmers of native origin or try to attract high producing non-Zimbabwean farmers from other countries, but that will take years before sizeable results are possible.
The quickest way to turn things around are those white Zimbabwean farmers in nearby countries. The main reasons for this are: 1. the white Zimbabwean farmers know Zimbabwean land and climate better than any foreign farmer can know; 2. many white Zimbabwean farmers are 'home sick' and wish to return to their country but fear Mugabe and that's what keeps them away; 3. they know the Zimbabwean culture and way of life better than any foreigner; and 4. add to that the know-how of how to take large swath of land and make them agriculturally productive.
No other group of people in the world can truly make Zimbabwe's economy turn around quicker than those white Zimbabwean farmers.
Most of the white Zimbabwean farmers rejected Mugabe's plead for them to return 'home,' mostly because the trust element was shattered during the violent expulsions imposed by Mugabe himself. At the time of the expulsions, Mugabe thought farming was something simple enough that any of his military cronies can easily replicate; which is why he ordered the white farms to be confiscated, their owners either killed or expelled, and the farms given to his military and political buddies. Once he saw the disastrous results, then Mugabe invited the white Zimbabwean farmers back to Zimbabwe.
Now that the old man is out of the picture, perhaps it will create more trust among the white Zimbabwean farmers and many more will return.
Racial tensions need to also be under control for this to work.
All these words and no mention of the sanctions possibly having an effect? Its as simple as the White farmers are gone so Zimbabwe goes to ruin? The fact that most of the most powerful countries in the world imposed economic sanctions had nothing to do with it?
Zimbabwe needs the sanctions removed and the local corruption has to lessen. Power politics requires that they do what they need to do to have the sanctions removed. Hopefully all groups involved are committed to a better Zimbabwe for all.
All these words and no mention of the sanctions possibly having an effect? Its as simple as the White farmers are gone so Zimbabwe goes to ruin? The fact that most of the most powerful countries in the world imposed economic sanctions had nothing to do with it?
Zimbabwe needs the sanctions removed and the local corruption has to lessen. Power politics requires that they do what they need to do to have the sanctions removed. Hopefully all groups involved are committed to a better Zimbabwe for all.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has died of cancer.
I would imagine this deals a serious blow to democratic hopes in Zimbabwe and strengthens the position of the generals. I dont think there was another opposition leader with his stature, at least not on the international level.
Mugabe's regime tried to bring back the white farmers it originally kicked out of the country. For better or worse, Zimbabwe's economy has always been heavily dependent on the agricultural sector and those white farmers were the main producers. Once they were kicked out basically overnight, the entire agricultural sector went down the drains taking the rest of Zimbabwe's economy along.
Neighboring countries began to court Zimbabwe's white farmers and Zambia, which is north of Zimbabwe, attracted enough of them that right now Zambia enjoys the 'title' that once was enjoyed by Zimbabwe, in short it became the breadbasket of Africa.
In order for Zimbabwe to get back on its economic feet, it needs its agricultural sector to get back on its own feet and remain strong. The people with the know-how are precisely Zimbabwe's white farmers that now are spread through out Africa making other countries more prosperous, a prosperity that should had been Zimbabwe's to begin with.
Zimbabwe can also try to develop a new group of highly effective farmers of native origin or try to attract high producing non-Zimbabwean farmers from other countries, but that will take years before sizeable results are possible.
The quickest way to turn things around are those white Zimbabwean farmers in nearby countries. The main reasons for this are: 1. the white Zimbabwean farmers know Zimbabwean land and climate better than any foreign farmer can know; 2. many white Zimbabwean farmers are 'home sick' and wish to return to their country but fear Mugabe and that's what keeps them away; 3. they know the Zimbabwean culture and way of life better than any foreigner; and 4. add to that the know-how of how to take large swath of land and make them agriculturally productive.
No other group of people in the world can truly make Zimbabwe's economy turn around quicker than those white Zimbabwean farmers.
Most of the white Zimbabwean farmers rejected Mugabe's plead for them to return 'home,' mostly because the trust element was shattered during the violent expulsions imposed by Mugabe himself. At the time of the expulsions, Mugabe thought farming was something simple enough that any of his military cronies can easily replicate; which is why he ordered the white farms to be confiscated, their owners either killed or expelled, and the farms given to his military and political buddies. Once he saw the disastrous results, then Mugabe invited the white Zimbabwean farmers back to Zimbabwe.
Now that the old man is out of the picture, perhaps it will create more trust among the white Zimbabwean farmers and many more will return.
Racial tensions need to also be under control for this to work.
I can understand the white farmers being homesick, but I would bet that they will think long and hard before returning to Zimbabwe. After all, it wasn't just one evil man who pushed them out. It was an entire system of government, personified by many individuals at all levels who participated, in one form or another, with the expulsions. Those people are still there. And I would imagine that the attitudes that "normalized" the expulsions are still there as well.
I don't know how much of the animus is racially based. But to the extent that it is, if I were a white person (farmer or otherwise), I would be very hesitant to return to a country where I'm outnumbered something like 100 to 1 (or whatever the ratio is), and I'm the "1" facing a hostile crowd of "100" who take one look at me and don't like me.
It does sound like Zimbabwe's loss has been Zambia's gain. I do wonder how well the farmers have been received by the Zambians. Are they being welcomed and being integrated into Zambian society? Or is it more a grudging tolerance of their presence? The video touches on some of this, but I'd be curious for more details.
No.
Democracy or no democracy matters nil in a 'country' with an innate culture of corruption.
How "innate" is that culture, though? There are lots of Zimbabweans who are not part of it. Many are still living in emigration around the world, waiting for a chance to return (or in younger generations--a chance to relocate there for the first time, and claim their heritage), to create a better system. White Zimbabweans aren't the only ones who fled, and have remained abroad. There's a lot of talent living in self-imposed exile, that could be brought to bear, on getting the country back on track. But it's not safe for them to do that, while corrupt and violent elements remain in charge.
Ruth4truth:
Please see my post in the Africa forum re what it have been like in the absence of European colonialism.
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