Back to Zim: Mnangagwa’s plan for white farmers revealed in new report




ZIMBABWE- SEPTEMBER 17: Louis Fick, a South Africa farmer living in Zimbabwe on September 17, 2009 in Zimbabwe stands against the fence of his farm that he was forced off of by Zimbabwean war veterans. (Photo by Gallo Images/The Times/James Oatway)
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HARARE – Robert Mugabe is out and Mnangagwa is (almost) in. The celebrations are still ongoing but what does that mean for the future of Zimbabwe. The country’s economy is beyond broken and plans are already underway to get things going again. If this report it to be believed, white farmers from Zimbabwe may soon be heading back home.

By Nic Andersen

Emmerson Mnangagwa arrived back in Zimbabwe to cheers and celebrations on Wednesday afternoon. Hours before that, he met with South African President Jacob Zuma. Mnangagwa has a busy schedule on his hands with his swearing in as President set to take place on Friday.

Ok, so that’s the “now” and near future to think of. The longer future may have already been thought of by Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF, according to Reuters that is.

The publication reports that it has seen hundreds of documents that show Mnangagwa and other political player have been positioning themselves for the day Mugabe dies or steps down. An intelligence report from as far back as 2009 also indicates that Mnangagwa plans to “reshape the country”

Mnangagwa is said to be ready to pursue a new relationship with thousands of white farmers. Farmers who were previously chased off their farms violently in the early 2000s. Reuters says the relationship will form part of a new transitional government that Mnangagwa wants to set up. The government would see Mnangagwa and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai work together.

Mnangagwa is said to believe that reviving the agriculture sector is “vital”. One document seen by Reuters claims the soon to be President knows he needs the white farmers.

“Mnangagwa realises he needs the white farmers on the land when he gets into power … he will use the white farmers to resuscitate the agricultural industry, which he reckons is the backbone of the economy,” a Jan. 6, 2016 report reads.

The farmers would also reportedly be “compensated and reintegrated”.

So, will all this come to fruition? Will the Zimbabwean economy be able to climb out of the pit it’s currently? Like most things in politics, we will just have to wait and see.