MEDIA REPORT ABUJA LAND AGREEMENT; HARARE

1. THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE" USED
ITS NOVEMBER 1 EDITORIAL TO URGE THE GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE TO SUPPORT THE ABUJA LAND. UNDER HEADLINE "THE
WAY FORWARD," THE PAPER COMMENTS:



2. "NOTHING COULD BE MORE TRAGIC FOR ZIMBABWE THAN THE
DELIBERATE MISINFORMATION BEING PERPETUATED BY THE
GOVERNMENT AND ITS SYCOPHANTIC MEDIA THAT HARARE HAS
COMPLIED WITH ABUJA AND MUST THEREFORE BE GIVEN FUNDING
FOR THE LAND REFORMS. THE ABUJA LAND PACT IS VERY CLEAR
ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND BY WHOM: THE ZIMBABWE
GOVERNMENT MUST IMPLEMENT THE ACCORD FIRST AND THEN BE
REWARDED WITH FUNDING FROM BRITAIN AND OTHER
INTERNATIONAL DONORS AND NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND. . .
THE KEY ELEMENT OF ABUJA, WHICH HAS RIGHTLY ALSO BECOME
THE UNDERLYING CONCERN OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION (EU) AND THE UNITED STATES, IS THE
RESTORATION OF THE RULE OF LAW IN ZIMBABWE. IT IS CLEAR
THAT ONCE THIS HURDLE HAS BEEN OVERCOME, ALL OUTSTANDING
ISSUES IN ZIMBABWE - THIS INCLUDES THE RESOLUTION OF THE
LONG-FESTERING LAND CRISIS - WILL SIMPLY FALL INTO LINE
WITHOUT ANY MORE PROBLEMS. NOT ONLY WOULD FUNDING FOR
THE AGRARIAN REFORMS BE FORTHCOMING ONCE THE RULE OF LAW
IS ADDRESSED BUT THE LAND REDISTRIBUTION SCHEME WOULD
NOW BECOME LEGAL AND TRANSPARENT, THUS FULFILLING THE
OTHER CONDITIONS SET BY ABUJA, THE EU AND THE
U.S. . . ."

SULLIVAN

UNCLASSIFIED

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