We have a pragmatic solution to Zimbabwe’s economic problems: CFU
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/
17.01.13
by Nelson Sibanda
The Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union has told journalists at a press
conference in Harare today, that it has a fair and pragmatic proposal which
if adopted by government will pull Zimbabwe out of its current economic
mess.
“We at the CFU have over the past two years been working together with our
many partners in forming such a proposal and we now feel that we can offer a
proposal which offers a fair and pragmatic solution, which if engaged will
have the ability to take this country forward for the betterment of all,”
said CFU president, Charles Taffs.
Taffs said it is time Zimbabwe changed direction since the country has over
the past 13 years been left behind in terms of technological infrastructure
development and economic growth.
“CFU invites government and others to engage with us as we offer this
proposal that we believe can be instrumental in bringing a lasting and
national beneficial outcome to the land reform process. Our proposal is
sincere and aimed at promoting an inclusive and sustainable social and
economic development and recovery.
“Our main agenda is to promote a stable and competitive agricultural
business environment and to provide advice and support to farmers. We
believe that this union and its members can play a significant role in
ensuring a bright future for the nation and its people through the
successful completion of the land reform programme,” said Taffs.
He said CFU believes there is a way forward which can result in significant
improvement in national recovery and economic restoration to the funding of
the ongoing agricultural transformation in Zimbabwe.
Taffs blamed what he described as the total nationalization and acquisition
of some 11.8 million hectares of commercial land which was previously held
under free hold title, for the end to secure property rights and of investor
confidence in all sectors of the economy.
“Government’s inability and failure to pay compensation and bring closure to
the acquisition process has crippled the institutional capacity to lend into
this sector. National collateral has effectively been undermined and all
agricultural land in Zimbabwe is now an impaired economic asset.
“Farmers have weak security of tenure and week land rights. Lending to the
agricultural sector has become excessively constrained and is heavily risk
loaded resulting in massive limitations to production. The sector is both
uncompetitive and non-performing as a result,” said the optimistic CFU
president.
Taffs added that land reform beneficiaries remained inadequately empowered
to leverage the potential of the land to which they have been given access.
“Access on its own is not enough. Thirteen years on we are left with an
agriculture sector in turmoil.
“The rural infrastructure is collapsing, thousands of kilometres of fencing
have been removed and conservation land laws are being openly disregarded
with dire environmental consequences. Earthen dam walls are becoming
unstable due to little or lack of maintenance.”
CFU said: “As a farming community in partnership with government, it is our
combined duty and responsibility to supply raw materials for industry and
export as well as to adequately feed the nation. We are quite clearly
failing.”
The farmers union said its proposal which is the solution to Zimbabwe’s
struggling economy is fair, all inclusive, focussed and must be adopted and
implemented in the short term. “This solution must re-establish the basic
fundamental foundations needed for rapid economic recovery and economic
gain, those being property rights.”
CFU will submit its agriculture sector and economic revival proposal to
government and other stakeholders soon.