Zim people living in comfort because of land grab: Mugabe

ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe says he has no regrets about his controversial land reform programme, describing it as a success which made him more enemies than friends.

Speaking at a State banquet in his honour in Windhoek on Tuesday night, Mugabe charged the United States and former colonial power Britain had wanted to punish Zimbabwe for daring to take “our destiny into our own hands”. He claimed that both Britain and the US had promised to help his country with its land reform project but reneged on their undertaking.”They dislike us because we have taken back our land.It (dislike) will remain so if they so desire,” the 83-year-old Mugabe said to applause from some of those who attended the dinner.He said the “illegal sanctions” imposed as punitive measures by the European Union and others against his country were “evils” but “there will never be a return to colonial times” in Zimbabwe.”They have skilfully manipulated the media to portray Zimbabwe as undemocratic.We are fully behind you (Namibia) as you tackle the mammoth task of land reform in your own way,” Mugabe told his host, President Hifikepunye Pohamba.Namibia has also undertaken a land reform programme which has reached the expropriation stage, but land owners get paid to part with their farms.Mugabe’s land reform programme is blamed for many of the problems in Zimbabwe.However, Mugabe is adamant that the programme has been a success and that landless indigenous people were now resettled to farm and live comfortably.He said those who did not want to farm commercially used their land to build much-needed schools and hospitals as land ownership was reversed.President Pohamba’s speech concentrated on economic and other co-operation between the two countries.He said Zimbabwe had helped train close to 100 teachers who graduated last year and was eager to assist Namibia to revitalise food production with experts from that country already in Namibia to train farmers.Pohamba offered Zimbabwe dry-dock storage facilities at Walvis Bay’s port, saying that it would help them reduce transport costs for their imports and exports.Before the banquet the Foreign Ministers of Namibia (Marco Hausiku) and Zimbabwe (Simbarashe Mumbengegwi) signed several bilateral agreements following a joint commission meeting.He claimed that both Britain and the US had promised to help his country with its land reform project but reneged on their undertaking.”They dislike us because we have taken back our land.It (dislike) will remain so if they so desire,” the 83-year-old Mugabe said to applause from some of those who attended the dinner.He said the “illegal sanctions” imposed as punitive measures by the European Union and others against his country were “evils” but “there will never be a return to colonial times” in Zimbabwe.”They have skilfully manipulated the media to portray Zimbabwe as undemocratic.We are fully behind you (Namibia) as you tackle the mammoth task of land reform in your own way,” Mugabe told his host, President Hifikepunye Pohamba.Namibia has also undertaken a land reform programme which has reached the expropriation stage, but land owners get paid to part with their farms.Mugabe’s land reform programme is blamed for many of the problems in Zimbabwe.However, Mugabe is adamant that the programme has been a success and that landless indigenous people were now resettled to farm and live comfortably.He said those who did not want to farm commercially used their land to build much-needed schools and hospitals as land ownership was reversed.President Pohamba’s speech concentrated on economic and other co-operation between the two countries.He said Zimbabwe had helped train close to 100 teachers who graduated last year and was eager to assist Namibia to revitalise food production with experts from that country already in Namibia to train farmers.Pohamba offered Zimbabwe dry-dock storage facilities at Walvis Bay’s port, saying that it would help them reduce transport costs for their imports and exports.Before the banquet the Foreign Ministers of Namibia (Marco Hausiku) and Zimbabwe (Simbarashe Mumbengegwi) signed several bilateral agreements following a joint commission meeting.