Cook: Britain to fund Zimbabwe land reform if occupations end

Cook said he made it clear during talks on Thursday that they cannot hold further meetings until there is an end to the farm occupations

April 27, 2000
Web posted at: 8:40 p.m. EDT (0340 GMT)

LONDON -- Britain will help fund land reform in Zimbabwe in the African nation if the campaign of farm occupations in the African country ends, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said Thursday.

Cook said he had agreed with a delegation from Zimbabwe to negotiate financial aid for a land reform program that is carried out "within the rule of law;" offered a fair price to the former colonists who now own the land; and would "benefit the rural poor who have no land."

The agreement was announced after eight hours of talks in London between Cook and John Nkomo, Zimbabwe's government and housing minister. The land seizures dominated the previously-scheduled meeting

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Zimbabwe land invasions

Veterans of Zimbabwe's independence war have led the invasion and occupation of hundreds of white-owned farms. At least 14 people have died, including farm owners, farm workers and opposition members, during the land crisis.

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Johannesburg Bureau Chief Charlayne Hunter-Gault looks at the controversial act. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Mike Hanna specifies the terms that Britain is requiring before financial assistance will be offered to Zimbabwe. QuickTime Play Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

Cook said Britain had 36 million pounds ($57 million) available for development aid to Zimbabwe to help pay for the program. In addition, he said that the delegation from Zimbabwe had committed itself to hold free elections as soon as an electoral commission completed its report on voting district boundaries, which was expected soon.

According to Zimbabwe's constitution, President Robert Mugabemust call elections by August, but no date has been set. Cook said that the delegation had agreed that there would be international monitoring of the election.

"My other objective today was to secure fair elections, free of intimidation," said Cook.

The veterans, backed by Mugabe, say the land was stolen from Africans by Britain during its colonial rule of Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia. Mugabe says Britain has a moral responsibility to help with the land transfers because many white farmers acquired their land under Britain's rule.

The 76-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled the country since independence in 1980, is not up for re-election until 2002.

Britain provided a large amount of money for land redistribution in the 1980s, but cut off the funds four years ago after allegations of corruption in the Mugabe government. Britain said the money was being diverted to Mugabe's friends and government supporters.

Currently, British aid to Zimbabwe is mostly channeled through nongovernmental organizations. The aid has fallen from 17 million pounds two years ago to 12 million ($7.2 million) this year.

Correspondent Mike Hanna and Johannesburg Bureau Chief Charlayne Hunter-Gault contributed to this report

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