Farm seizures fuel unemployment
http://www.financialgazette.co.zw
Friday, 28 September 2012 11:23
Mandla Tshuma
BULAWAYO – Dutch ambassador to Zimbabwe, Barbara Joziasse, says ongoing farm
invasions in the country are fueling unemployment while worsening the plight
of ordinary citizens.
The country’s unemployment rate, currently estimated at over 80 percent, has
been rising since the 2000 land invasions, which saw thousands losing their
jobs.
Recently, ZANU-PF bigwigs in Masvingo invaded the Save Conservancy under the
controversial indigenisation and black economic empowerment crusade, a move,
however, condemned by Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Walter
Mzembi (pictured).
Speaking at a Press conference in Bulawayo last Thursday, Joziasse said
there was nothing wrong with empowerment as long as it created more jobs and
enabled citizens to enjoy their civil and economic rights.
She, howeve,r said the “illegal seizures” had brought more harm than good to
the Zimbabwean economy.
“More importantly, even I think there are economic damages that are caused
by these illegal seizures and what I have seen over last year that I have
been here is that usually employment goes down; people lose their jobs,” she
said.
Condemning the controversial takeover of white-owned farms, Joziasse added:
“The assets are sold close to nothing and at the end of the day it is the
people looking for jobs and decent income that are bearing the brunt of
these illegal seizures.”
The Netherlands envoy said forceful transfer of ownership from one hand to
another undermined investor confidence in the country.
“I don’t believe that people are more empowered if no investment is coming
to the country, I don’t believe it. The economic cake has to grow so that
everyone can enjoy it,” she said.
Joziasse said her country was also “deeply concerned” with property seizures
as she felt the Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement treaty with
Zimbabwe was not being respected.
She added that her government had engaged its Zimbabwean counterpart on the
matter, but nothing significant to date had come out of those engagements.
The Netherlands, through the Dutch Development Bank, invested US$40 million
into Zimbabwe last year, US$2 million of which went towards food security.