Zimbabwe land crisis threatens economy

Zimbabwe’s economy will shrink by more than 10 percent and growth in the key agriculture sector plunge by 20 percent if the country’s land crisis continues, news reports quoted a report by the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) as saying. “It is envisaged that if the current land redistribution problems persist, the economy will shrink by more than 10 percent,” the ZNCC said. “Growth of the agricultural sector may plunge by well above 20 percent if there is no immediate resolution to the current crisis.” About 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s industry is agriculture based. Wheat production was expected to fall by 40 percent and tobacco by more than 30 percent in the next 12 months, the report noted.