Zimbabwean President Calls for Openness in Debate over Succession

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, May 23, 2003

Zimbabwean President Calls for Openness in Debate over Succession

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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Thursday called for openness in debate over the succession issue when he began a nationwide tour to assess various development projects, recovery from last season's drought, the state of Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)and explain the task of the land review committee.

Addressing thousands of people at a rally at Tsakare in Mount Darwin, Mugabe spoke on various issues ranging from the land issue,the state of the economy, the succession issue in ZANU-PF, education and food aid.

Mugabe reiterated that debate on the succession issue should been couraged within the party.

He said there was no need for party leaders to engage in clandestine activities over the issue because it was important to maintain unity.

"You must debate succession. We want to be true and open to each other and discuss as a united people," he said.

He said after allocating land to people under the A1 and A2 resettlement models, the government had seen it fit to appoint a committee to review the program in its entirety and make necessary recommendations on the way forward.

Before the rally, Mugabe met chiefs from Mashonaland Central and commissioned electricity at Tangenhamo Primary School, which was electrified under the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority's rural electrification program.

He also toured the Tsakare Irrigation Scheme in the same area where 32 farmers are using irrigation to produce tomatoes, onions,butternuts and maize among other crops.

Mugabe urged the farmers to intensify crop production under irrigation to help boost agricultural production.

At the rally, Mugabe said the government's emphasis on land reform was deliberate because the basis for economic development was equitable distribution of land, a resource found in abundance in the country.

"Agriculture must be the bedrock of economic development. That is why we have been putting emphasis on giving land to our people," he said.

"Zimbabweans, should, like the Americans and British, not enjoyjust political freedom but economic empowerment through ownership of their resources," he said.

He commended new farmers who were utilizing their land and urged them to share produce with those that did not realize good harvests.

Mugabe said although farmers in most parts of the country had realized good harvests following the late Cyclone Japhet induced rains, some had not and would need food aid.

The government would continue with public works programs in areas that did not have good harvests to enable people to earn money to buy food.

The elderly and school children would be given free aid.

Mugabe warned farmers against unscrupulous non-governmental organizations and companies that were promising to pay prices higher than the 130,000 Zimbabwean dollars (about 158 US dollars) per ton that the Grain Marketing Board is offering for maize.

Mugabe on Friday continues his tour and is expected to visit Mashonaland East province.

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