BBC roasts Chinamasa
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/
April 5, 2013 in Politics
JUSTICE minister Patrick Chinamasa was this week roasted by Stephen Sackur
on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)’s Hard Talk programme where he
struggled to defend Zanu PF and President Robert Mugabe’s land seizures
under the controversial land reform programme.
Report by Herbert Moyo
A visibly angry Chinamasa buckled under the barrage of questions on Zanu PF’s
political repression, including the banning of independent radio stations,
intimidation of judges and violent land seizures which have seen party
officials, including Mugabe helping themselves to numerous farms.
“You should ask yourself why only these countries (Britain, USA and Canada)
are criticising Zanu PF; why them alone?” protested Chinamasa.
“The answer is that they still want to regard us as their colony.”
Asked by Sackur how many farms Mugabe and his family owns, Chinamasa said:
“To be honest I dont know.”
Mugabe’s family reportedly own more than 10 farms directly or indirectly,
and only this January, First Lady Grace grabbed the 1 600 hectares of
agro-producer Interfresh’s Mazowe Citrus Estate in Mashonaland Central.
Interfresh said Grace took a portion of its estate, which represents 46% of
Mazowe Citrus Estate’s total arable land, 30% of its budgeted revenue for
the 2013 financial year and 52% of the value of immovable and biological
assets.
In addition, Mashonaland Central governor Martin Dinha promised the Mugabe
family more land should they want to expand their family projects.
“We offered you land and we will continue to offer you land for other
projects if you want it,” Dinha said at the official opening of the Amai
Mugabe Junior School in Mazowe in February.
Questioned by Sackur about Mugabe’s continued leadership of Zanu PF and the
country despite his old age and failing health, Chinamasa said the Mugabe
issue was a problem for his party and country to solve.
Chinamasa said he has “no (guilty) conscience” after grabbing a farm in
Headlands from Richard Yates who was forced to relocate to Australia.