Talks on Zimbabwe crisis come to nought

By Thomas Abraham

LONDON, APRIL. 28. Talks between Britain and Zimbabwe to end the crisis resulting from the occupation of white-owned farms have yielded nothing. The British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Robin Cook, said Britain was willing to provide up to œ36 million in development aid to Zimbabwe, but the occupation of farms had to end and so too the violence against white farmers.

The Zimbabwean side rejected linking the aid for land reform and an end to the current political violence, saying Britain had made a commitment in 1998 which it was obliged to keep. Mr. John Nkomo, Zimbabwe's Local Government Minister, said after the talks ended that ``the problems we have at home'', were not a reason to withold British funding. Even though the white farmers, whose lands have been forcibly taken are Zimbabwean citizens, Britain has taken on itself the role of the ex-colonial power, issuing strong condemnations against the land seizures. The Zimbabwean Government has reacted angrily to this, accusing Britain of interference.

Zimbabwe said had Britain provided more funds for land reform, then the present crisis could have been averted. Britain did provide œ44 million to Zimbabwe for land reform after the African country's independence in 1980 but stopped payments in 1988 on the grounds that it was not being properly used. A second conference of donors agreed in 1998 to fund development and land reform in Zimbabwe but Britain has not contributed anything on the grounds that the funds were being misused.

Yesterday's meeting was an attempt to resolve the differences between Zimbabwe and Britain and lay the groundwork for additional British aid. But after eight hours of reportedly tense negotiations, the talks ran aground. Britain now says that it will not have any further Ministerial talks until the occupation of white farm land ends. Mr. Cook said the two sides had agreed that their dialogue would continue at the official level, but would only move to the next step `` if first the occupations come to an end.'' If the violence ended, Mr. Cook said, then Britain would begin discussions on the aid package, and take the lead in getting international donors to support Zimbabwe.

The only positive outcome from yesterday's negotiations was an apparent agreement by the Zimbabwean side to hold elections speedily and to accept international observers and monitors. ``The Government of Zimbabwe has committed itself today to hold free and fair elections as soon as the delimitation commission has concluded its report on fair boudaries. I am assured this will happen soon,'' Mr. Cook said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : U.S.-Russia talks on ABM fail
Next     : Reformists may have the last laugh in Iran