Share & more
Nearly 2,000 white farmers, uncertain about their future in the face of new farm seizures by the government, have stepped up efforts to seek alternative farming opportunities elsewhere in southern and eastern Africa, ‘The Financial Gazette’ reported on Thursday.
The newspaper quoted farming industry sources as saying that in the past month alone an estimated 1,700 tobacco and maize farmers had made enquiries to resettle in countries such as Zambia, Mozambique and Uganda.
Steve Crawford, a spokesman for the Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU) was quoted as saying: “It is true Zimbabwean farmers are seeking opportunities in the region but I do not have comprehensive information since this is done on an individual basis.”
“But this does not mean that farmers want to flee the country because we still believe and hope that a solution to the land reform exercise will be found.”
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
