Blast from the Past: 2001: Driving out White Farmers: 21 White Farmers in jail…

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Original Post Date: 2001-08-29 Time: 04:20:17 Posted By: Jan

19/08/2001

There are reports of more land seizures in Zimbabwe. This comes as white
farmers across the country protest against a court-delay that is keeping 21 farmers behind bars.

The farmers were arrested nearly two weeks ago, after being accused of
attacking a group of black squatters. The High court has so far postponed the decision for bail twice.

Meanwhile white Zimbabwean farmers have been told to leave their property to make way for black settlers, that is the word from the country’s Minister for lands.

Zimbabwe’s government says it will not declare a state of emergency if the United States imposes sanctions on its leaders.

Jonathan Moyo, Information Minister, says: “The suggestion that the American sanctions bill against Zimbabwe would lead to the declaration of a state of emergency is totally baseless”.

“We will not declare a state of emergency, especially now when we have gone over the dark clouds,” he says.

But Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge has told state television that if Zimbabwe fails in its lobbying efforts to stop the bill’s passage, a declaration of a state of emergency in Zimbabwe could not be ruled out.

“When a country is under siege, all options will be looked at, including
declaring a state of emergency,” Mudenge says.

Under a state of emergency, a number of constitutional rights such as freedom of expression, assembly and movement could cease to have effect, according to legal experts.

If imposed, the measure could sharply limit the ability of President Robert Mugabe’s opponents to campaign against him in presidential elections due in April. – Sapa – AFP

Source: https://archive.africancrisis.info/?p=157