Tsvangirai scrutinises farm seizures in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s deputy premier Arthur Mutambara said Thursday a team of top officials from the unity government was launching an investigation into fresh seizures of white-owned farms.
Despite President Mugabe unwillingness to look into the matter, Prime Minster Morgan Tsvangirai appointed a ministerial team, led by Mutambara, to look into the farm takeovers, which Mugabe and ZANU-PF characterize as land reform "mop-up" or consolidation operations rather than new farm invasions.
Sources said the ministerial team will start today making unannounced visits to three farms caught up in the alleged takeovers, and report to Tsvangirai next week.
The prime minister said the farm invasions are counterproductive and condemn Zimbabweans to perpetual hunger by undermining the country’s agricultural capacity.
Since Zimbabwe’s unity government formed in February, white farmers have reported a surge in violence on their lands despite a power-sharing deal between longtime President Mugabe and new Prime Minister Tsvangirai.
