Comments on: The State of Human Rights in Zimbabwe http://www.one.org/blog/2009/07/13/zimbabwe-a-sturdy-constitution-or-just-indigestion/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:05:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: charmaine kanengoni http://www.one.org/blog/2009/07/13/zimbabwe-a-sturdy-constitution-or-just-indigestion/#comment-564838 charmaine kanengoni Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:10:59 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/?p=6953#comment-564838 my name is charmaine kanengoni.l am 11yrs old. my name is charmaine kanengoni.l am 11yrs old.

]]> By: Sarah Hager http://www.one.org/blog/2009/07/13/zimbabwe-a-sturdy-constitution-or-just-indigestion/#comment-563853 Sarah Hager Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:17:40 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/?p=6953#comment-563853 Hi Debra- Thank you for your comment on my posting. I am not African but just a quick statement regarding the land seizures. It is a very complicated issue on many levels. Amnesty International's position on the land seizures is that we recognize there were severe inequities in land ownership as a vestige of colonialism and that the redsitribution of land it is an internal matter, however Amnesty International condemns the violence and disregard for the rule of law with which the land seizures have occurred. Not only have white commercial farmers been displaced, but the African workers on the farms lost their homes, livelihoods and experienced severe violence as well. As of this time, unless the international community provides compensation to both the displaced owners and displaced workers, there will be none. There is much debate as to whether the land redistribution starting in 2000 is the direct causal link to the accelerated pace of economic collapse in the following years. Many of the hectares of farmland redistributed are being actively farmed. However, it is indisputable that many farms were allocated to absentee owners and are laying fallow. Further, there is desparate need for agriculture aid in the form of seed, fertilizer and rehabilitation of development of irrigation systems particularly for smaller scale farms. Sarah Hager Chair, Southern Africa Co-group Amnesty International USA Hi Debra-
Thank you for your comment on my posting. I am not African but just a quick statement regarding the land seizures. It is a very complicated issue on many levels. Amnesty International’s position on the land seizures is that we recognize there were severe inequities in land ownership as a vestige of colonialism and that the redsitribution of land it is an internal matter, however Amnesty International condemns the violence and disregard for the rule of law with which the land seizures have occurred. Not only have white commercial farmers been displaced, but the African workers on the farms lost their homes, livelihoods and experienced severe violence as well. As of this time, unless the international community provides compensation to both the displaced owners and displaced workers, there will be none.

There is much debate as to whether the land redistribution starting in 2000 is the direct causal link to the accelerated pace of economic collapse in the following years. Many of the hectares of farmland redistributed are being actively farmed. However, it is indisputable that many farms were allocated to absentee owners and are laying fallow. Further, there is desparate need for agriculture aid in the form of seed, fertilizer and rehabilitation of development of irrigation systems particularly for smaller scale farms.

Sarah Hager
Chair, Southern Africa Co-group
Amnesty International USA

]]> By: Debbie K http://www.one.org/blog/2009/07/13/zimbabwe-a-sturdy-constitution-or-just-indigestion/#comment-563837 Debbie K Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:54:02 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/?p=6953#comment-563837 I am very glad to see ONE make reference to AI's current initiatives in Africa. But we must remember that it's not just in Zimbabwe but around the Continent that people of good will & whose hearts are set on democracy & accountability must advocate for. Please continue to make the cross references to the issues of climate change, human rights and extreme poverty and of how these issues are intersecting in Africa. Living Positively, debbie www.myspace.com/mulago I am very glad to see ONE make reference to AI’s current initiatives in Africa. But we must remember that it’s not just in Zimbabwe but around the Continent that people of good will & whose hearts are set on democracy & accountability must advocate for.

Please continue to make the cross references to the issues of climate change, human rights and extreme poverty and of how these issues are intersecting in Africa.

Living Positively, debbie
http://www.myspace.com/mulago

]]> By: Debra Goldenberg http://www.one.org/blog/2009/07/13/zimbabwe-a-sturdy-constitution-or-just-indigestion/#comment-563834 Debra Goldenberg Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:04:48 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/?p=6953#comment-563834 That is exemplary that this crisis-ravaged country is taking it into their own volition to construct a new constitution. Kenya would do well to do the same. What I want to know, is what is Zimbabwe doing to address the loss of farms by white farmers. They had a working agricultural industry going for a long while, before and after independence. Are they going to be reimbursed, or just barred from ever working in the place again. I don't know about the racism in that country. Any Africans out there can comment on this, I would like to hear YOUR side of the story. Thanks. And please feel free to disagree with me, I am just a lowly ONE member trying to get some relief, lol. That is exemplary that this crisis-ravaged country is taking it into their own volition to construct a new constitution. Kenya would do well to do the same. What I want to know, is what is Zimbabwe doing to address the loss of farms by white farmers. They had a working agricultural industry going for a long while, before and after independence. Are they going to be reimbursed, or just barred from ever working in the place again. I don’t know about the racism in that country. Any Africans out there can comment on this, I would like to hear YOUR side of the story. Thanks. And please feel free to disagree with me, I am just a lowly ONE member trying to get some relief, lol.

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