Bob made the comments while launching the new A1 Settlement Permits, which will ensure that farmers have security of tenure. The permits allow new farmers to access agricultural funding from financial institutions.
Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Mail quoted Bob as saying whites in Zimbabwe could only be allowed to own companies, industries and apartments, but not land.
A news24 reports says Mugabe’s latest pronouncements are likely to “send jitters across the agricultural sector and concern the remaining white commercial farmers, some of whom have argued that they never benefitted from colonialism”.
These latest reported statements contradict statements made by Zimbabwe Environment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere who said in June that his government will no longer engage in farm grabs. Kasukuwere said no more farms or properties owned by westerners would be grabbed.
Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party launched land reforms in 2000 taking over white-owned farms to resettle landless blacks. At the time, Mugabe said the reforms were meant to correct colonial land ownership imbalances. Reports say around 4,000 white commercial farmers were evicted from farms. Many people died in the violence or were simply murdered.
