Some of the farms involved are owned by black Africans, most of whom are critics of Mr Mugabe. In 2000, Zimbabwe's government expropriated white farmers without compensation. The seizures could also trigger a failure of Zimbabwe's commercial banks which have lent more than £431m to the farming sector. "It's the beginning of the end of the economy of this country.". He said his government was responding to the demands of the veterans of the country's 1970s war of liberation. Officials from the United Nations Development Programme and the president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, have attempted in recent days to broker a compromise deal to raise international funds to pay for the white-owned farms. Monday, 3 July, 2000, 11:40 GMT 12:40 UK Appeal against Zimbabwe land grab. Robert Mugabe launched the land reform programme in 2000 to redistribute property from white farmers to landless black Zimbabweans. "The accelerated land reform and resettlement implementation fast-track approach commences today in all eight provinces of the country," Mr Msika told reporters. "Land … The British government had earmarked £37m for much-needed land reform in Zimbabwe, but Mr Mugabe's current land grab will not qualify for the funds. Zimbabwean farmer describes losing home of 22 years in fresh land grab. Hundreds of Zimbabwe's white farmers prepared to leave their land yesterday following Robert Mugabe's announcement of the seizure of 804 mostly white-owned farms for the resettlement of poor black farmers. ... Zimbabwe land grab… The Zimbabwean authorities are due to begin considering legal objections to the compulsory acquisition by the state of more than 800 white-owned farms. the book, Zimbabwe’s Land Reform: Myths and Realities. The new land legislation, written by Mr Mugabe and enacted last week, gives farmers few grounds to contest the seizures. Saturday, 15 July, 2000, 11:40 GMT 12:40 UK Zimbabwe land grab begins. • Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe is served with a civil suit, while visiting the United Nations. People will be moved onto the farms by the end of June, despite the fact that the farm owners have 30 days to lodge legal objections to the confiscations. Zimbabwean farmer describes losing home of 22 years in fresh land grab. Five white farmers have been killed since Mr Mugabe's supporters began invading farms three months ago. Zimbabwe’s land reform experience since 1980 entails four different phases: (1) market-based system using a “willing seller–willing buyer approach,” which could not be altered within the first decade of independence; (2) compulsory acquisitions of land by government for public use (1992-2000), based on gazetted compensation fees; Around 4 000 whites were forcibly evicted and 18 farmers were killed during the violent land repossessions. "Landless blacks would begin being resettled today", Saturday, 15 July, 2000, 11:40 GMT 12:40 UK, ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------, World leaders positive on Zimbabwe elections. Zimbabwe land grab: Robert Mugabe's government brought in the land reform in 2000 (Image: GETTY) This left many black farmers without land or a … On August 31, the government of Zimbabwe announced that foreign white farmers settled in the country who lost land between 2000 and 2001 … "Land reform in Zimbabwe can only really succeed if it is transparent and legal," said the British high commissioner, Peter Longworth, yesterday. The properties confiscated comprise nearly a quarter of the country's large-scale farms. A gang armed with AK47 guns forced Phillip Rankin and his wife Anita from their £1million farm land in a controversial 'land grab'. Subject: Zimbabwe's Land Grab . The effort is an attempt by the government to redress the damage caused by its land seizures that started in 2000. "This will tear the heart out of commercial agriculture," he said. "We have always said we are prepared to participate in such a plan. Robert Mugabe launched the land reform programme in 2000 to redistribute property from white farmers to landless black Zimbabweans. But Mr Mugabe rejected the imposition of any conditions on how the land reform should be carried out. IN Mnangagwa's own words, the Fast Track Land Reform programme which began in 2000, is “irriversible.” That is what he said at his inauguration, and … It is unfortunate that Mugabe is so scared of losing power that he will damage the environment and the economy just to stay in office.". The economic effects of Mr Mugabe's hasty land resettlement are expected to be disastrous. 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