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White Farmers Success 22nd August 2005 Harare - More than 20 African countries are trying to recruit Zimbabwean farmers to come and help them develop commercial agriculture in their countries. This comes after land reform caused a food crisis in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is no longer able to feed its people and about 4.3m people are in danger of starving. A report by the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) points out that the success stories of the projects run by Zimbabwean farmers in Nigeria have caused a number of African governments to sit up and take note. Similar projects launched "These projects have opened many doors and will continue to open doors in other countries. Private companies and government departments are very interested to launch similar projects," the report explains. Countries that have already expressed interest and are negotiating with the CFU include Ghana, Cameroon, Sudan, Benin, the Central African Republic and Namibia. The CFU says a team is already launching a similar project in Senegal. "We have been to Senegal three times and we are gathering suggestions. All the parties involved are very positive about the project." Alan Jack, leader of the group who now lives in Nigeria, said up to 23 African countries have already approached his office with suggestions after 15 farmers and their families moved to the Kwara province of Nigeria. Most of the farmers fled to Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and Uganda. The Zimbabwean government is still clamping down on white farmers. Farmers claim proposed changes to the country's legislation would nationalize all land. Doug Taylor-Freeme, CFU president, says it is frightening that parliament will not even be allowed to debate the proposed changes to the constitution. "Since nearly every white farmer has been identified (for land reform) in some way or another, it is clear that ethnic cleansing is taking place here," he adds. Barnabas
Thondhlana - News24 |