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Kuwait Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Zimbabwe's farmers push on as land grab compensation flounders
KWEKWE: In a field of paprika plants in the heart of Zimbabwe, fourth-generation farmer Daniel Burger and relative newcomer Miriam Mupambawashe discuss the quality of the crop. Burger, 36, and Mupambawashe, 59, are neighbors and partners in efforts to revive the country's once-flourishing agriculture sector cut down by a ruinous land reform drive in the 2000s. The reform distributed land from the white minority, which still owned most of the best farmland 20 years after independence in 1980, to the black majority. Around 4,000 white-owned farms were confiscated, some with deadly violence. Mupambawashe was among thousands who received land. Though she initially knew little about farming, her small subsistence plot now thrives. Other farms failed or were abandoned, with some new tenants unschooled in agriculture and others—including politicians who were handed land—uninterested. There were food shortages and Zimbabwe soon required international aid. 'There was a bit of a tough period through the 2000s and, unfortunately, I think it sort of refuelled racial tensions to an extent,' Burger told AFP. 'But being so passionate about farming was the motivator for me to move forward,' he said. Good faith Mupambawashe moved to the area from the southern city of Bulawayo, around 200 kilometers away. 'When we first came here in 2001, it was a forest and there was nothing built,' she said. 'Some of the white farmers were angry but we managed to talk to each other in good faith and move forward.' 'They never let us down and said, 'You grabbed the farm, let's see if you can do it'. But instead they brought their own tractors and equipment to come and help, which we felt was a nice gesture.' It was hard in the beginning, especially after irrigation equipment was stolen, and the early failures were 'embarrassing', Mupambawashe said. But today her plot does so well that she only needs to buy in sugar and cooking oil. Burger leases land from her and lends tractors and expertise. His family's land was among the few hundreds that were not seized in the 2000s. Nonetheless, 'For a long time we became wound up in compensation,' said Burger, vice-president of the Commercial Farmers Union of Zimbabwe (CFU) that represents mostly white farmers. 'But it wasn't our purpose. Our purpose was driving agriculture and current agricultural affairs forward,' he said. Compensation frustration This year, some farm owners whose land was confiscated received the first compensation payments after decades of waiting. The process has been complex and divisive. The government committed to compensation as part of an effort to settle arrears and reform the economy in order to be able to regain access to international credit lines cut two decades ago. It announced in 2020 the creation of a fund that would pay out US$3.5 billion for infrastructure on farms but not the land, which it says was taken by force by colonial settlers. Unable to raise cash, the government in 2023 changed the offer to one percent in cash and the remainder in US dollar denominated treasury bonds. In April, the first payments were made to 378 of 780 farmers approved for this scheme. Deon Theron, who represents the Compensation Steering Committee group of former white farmers, says the introduction of the bonds has annulled the original deal and negotiations need to start over. The bonds are 'unsecured' and there is 'limited recourse in the event of non-performance by government,' he told AFP. 'The general feeling amongst the farmers is firstly frustration that after 20-odd years we still have not received anything,' Theron said. But the Property and Farm Compensation Association said its members would take what is on offer. The bonds are under international guarantee, said leader Harry Orphanides, adding that 'digging in' and seeking more from the government would be futile. Tenure Mupambawashe and Burger are encouraged by another major government announcement—the granting of land ownership rights to beneficiaries of the 2000s land reform. The tenure announced late last year replaces 99-year leases and means the new owners can deal with the property as they wish, including putting it up for sale. 'It makes us feel settled,' Mupambawashe said. 'No one could come and tell us to move off the land or take it away from us.' 'It is just going to catapult us forward as a nation and an economy,' Burger said. 'We used to be the breadbasket of Africa and we lost it somewhat. But I just look at where we are now.'- AFP
Int'l Business Times
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Zimbabwe's Farmers Push On As Land Grab Compensation Flounders
In a field of paprika plants in the heart of Zimbabwe, fourth-generation farmer Daniel Burger and relative newcomer Miriam Mupambawashe discuss the quality of the crop. Burger, 36, and Mupambawashe, 59, are neighbours and partners in efforts to revive the country's once-flourishing agriculture sector cut down by a ruinous land reform drive in the 2000s. The reform distributed land from the white minority, which still owned most of the best farmland 20 years after independence in 1980, to the black majority. Around 4,000 white-owned farms were confiscated, some with deadly violence. Mupambawashe was among thousands who received land. Though she initially knew little about farming, her small subsistence plot now thrives. Other farms failed or were abandoned, with some new tenants unschooled in agriculture and others -- including politicians who were handed land -- uninterested. There were food shortages and Zimbabwe soon required international aid. "There was a bit of a tough period through the 2000s and, unfortunately, I think it sort of refuelled racial tensions to an extent," Burger told AFP. "But being so passionate about farming was the motivator for me to move forward," he said. Mupambawashe moved to the area from the southern city of Bulawayo, around 200 kilometres (125 miles) away. "When we first came here in 2001, it was a forest and there was nothing built," she said. "Some of the white farmers were angry but we managed to talk to each other in good faith and move forward." "They never let us down and said, 'You grabbed the farm, let's see if you can do it'. But instead they brought their own tractors and equipment to come and help, which we felt was a nice gesture." It was hard in the beginning, especially after irrigation equipment was stolen, and the early failures were "embarrassing", Mupambawashe said. But today her plot does so well that she only needs to buy in sugar and cooking oil. Burger leases land from her and lends tractors and expertise. His family's land was among the few hundreds that were not seized in the 2000s. Nonetheless, "For a long time we became wound up in compensation," said Burger, vice-president of the Commercial Farmers Union of Zimbabwe (CFU) that represents mostly white farmers. "But it wasn't our purpose. Our purpose was driving agriculture and current agricultural affairs forward," he said. This year, some farm owners whose land was confiscated received the first compensation payments after decades of waiting. The process has been complex and divisive. The government committed to compensation as part of an effort to settle arrears and reform the economy in order to be able to regain access to international credit lines cut two decades ago. It announced in 2020 the creation of a fund that would pay out US$3.5 billion for infrastructure on farms but not the land, which it says was taken by force by colonial settlers. Unable to raise cash, the government in 2023 changed the offer to one percent in cash and the remainder in US dollar denominated treasury bonds. In April, the first payments were made to 378 of 780 farmers approved for this scheme. Deon Theron, who represents the Compensation Steering Committee group of former white farmers, says the introduction of the bonds has annulled the original deal and negotiations need to start over. The bonds are "unsecured" and there is "limited recourse in the event of non-performance by government," he told AFP. "The general feeling amongst the farmers is firstly frustration that after 20-odd years we still have not received anything," Theron said. But the Property and Farm Compensation Association said its members would take what is on offer. The bonds are under international guarantee, said leader Harry Orphanides, adding that "digging in" and seeking more from the government would be futile. Mupambawashe and Burger are encouraged by another major government announcement -- the granting of land ownership rights to beneficiaries of the 2000s land reform. The tenure announced late last year replaces 99-year leases and means the new owners can deal with the property as they wish, including putting it up for sale. "It makes us feel settled," Mupambawashe said. "No one could come and tell us to move off the land or take it away from us." "It is just going to catapult us forward as a nation and an economy," Burger said. "We used to be the breadbasket of Africa and we lost it somewhat. But I just look at where we are now." Miriam Mupambawashe and Daniel Burger are farmers and neighbours in Zimbabwe's Midlands province AFP Farmer Daniel Burger wants Zimbabwe to reestablish its former glory as an agricultural powerhouse AFP
France 24
29-05-2025
- Business
- France 24
Zimbabwe's farmers push on as land grab compensation flounders
Burger, 36, and Mupambawashe, 59, are neighbours and partners in efforts to revive the country's once-flourishing agriculture sector cut down by a ruinous land reform drive in the 2000s. The reform distributed land from the white minority, which still owned most of the best farmland 20 years after independence in 1980, to the black majority. Around 4,000 white-owned farms were confiscated, some with deadly violence. Mupambawashe was among thousands who received land. Though she initially knew little about farming, her small subsistence plot now thrives. Other farms failed or were abandoned, with some new tenants unschooled in agriculture and others -- including politicians who were handed land -- uninterested. There were food shortages and Zimbabwe soon required international aid. "There was a bit of a tough period through the 2000s and, unfortunately, I think it sort of refuelled racial tensions to an extent," Burger told AFP. "But being so passionate about farming was the motivator for me to move forward," he said. Good faith Mupambawashe moved to the area from the southern city of Bulawayo, around 200 kilometres (125 miles) away. "When we first came here in 2001, it was a forest and there was nothing built," she said. "Some of the white farmers were angry but we managed to talk to each other in good faith and move forward." "They never let us down and said, 'You grabbed the farm, let's see if you can do it'. But instead they brought their own tractors and equipment to come and help, which we felt was a nice gesture." It was hard in the beginning, especially after irrigation equipment was stolen, and the early failures were "embarrassing", Mupambawashe said. But today her plot does so well that she only needs to buy in sugar and cooking oil. Burger leases land from her and lends tractors and expertise. His family's land was among the few hundreds that were not seized in the 2000s. Nonetheless, "For a long time we became wound up in compensation," said Burger, vice-president of the Commercial Farmers Union of Zimbabwe (CFU) that represents mostly white farmers. "But it wasn't our purpose. Our purpose was driving agriculture and current agricultural affairs forward," he said. Compensation frustration This year, some farm owners whose land was confiscated received the first compensation payments after decades of waiting. The process has been complex and divisive. The government committed to compensation as part of an effort to settle arrears and reform the economy in order to be able to regain access to international credit lines cut two decades ago. It announced in 2020 the creation of a fund that would pay out US$3.5 billion for infrastructure on farms but not the land, which it says was taken by force by colonial settlers. Unable to raise cash, the government in 2023 changed the offer to one percent in cash and the remainder in US dollar denominated treasury bonds. In April, the first payments were made to 378 of 780 farmers approved for this scheme. Deon Theron, who represents the Compensation Steering Committee group of former white farmers, says the introduction of the bonds has annulled the original deal and negotiations need to start over. The bonds are "unsecured" and there is "limited recourse in the event of non-performance by government," he told AFP. "The general feeling amongst the farmers is firstly frustration that after 20-odd years we still have not received anything," Theron said. But the Property and Farm Compensation Association said its members would take what is on offer. The bonds are under international guarantee, said leader Harry Orphanides, adding that "digging in" and seeking more from the government would be futile. Tenure Mupambawashe and Burger are encouraged by another major government announcement -- the granting of land ownership rights to beneficiaries of the 2000s land reform. The tenure announced late last year replaces 99-year leases and means the new owners can deal with the property as they wish, including putting it up for sale. "It makes us feel settled," Mupambawashe said. "No one could come and tell us to move off the land or take it away from us." "It is just going to catapult us forward as a nation and an economy," Burger said. "We used to be the breadbasket of Africa and we lost it somewhat. But I just look at where we are now." strs/br/ho/cw © 2025 AFP
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Indian Express
76 phones returned to rightful owners in New Delhi police district
The New Delhi district police recovered 76 mobile phones over the past month across various police station jurisdictions and gave them back to their rightful owners on Saturday. The bulk of the recoveries came from the Kartavya Path police station, where 38 phones were tracked and returned. Tughlak Road followed with 10 recoveries, while Tilak Marg accounted for seven. Other contributions included four phones each from Chanakyapuri and South Avenue, three each from Barakhamba Road, North Avenue, and Connaught Place, two from Mandir Marg, and one each from Parliament Street and the Cyber police station. The operation relied heavily on the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, which enables the police to block, trace, and recover lost or stolen mobile phones using their unique IMEI numbers. By leveraging this technology alongside traditional policing methods, the teams were able to locate devices from various areas and return them to their rightful owners, the police said. In February this year, the Delhi Police's metro wing returned 201 phones to their owners. According to the police, cell phone thefts account for over 80 per cent of all crimes reported in the Delhi Metro, often orchestrated by organised criminal networks that swiftly dispose of or sell stolen devices. In the 20 days it took to complete the operation, 32 dedicated teams had travelled across 16 states – from Kerala to Jammu and Kashmir, and Meghalaya to Gujarat – tracking stolen phones and arresting culprits. The police also set up a Court Facilitation Unit (CFU) to work directly with judicial magistrates. 'The CFU helped streamline the process by enabling virtual appearances for complainants, thereby eliminating the need for physical court visits. Furthermore, the police ensured that victims were not burdened by legal fees, which had previously acted as a deterrent to seeking justice. Upon securing the necessary release orders, the Reconnecting Unit would ensure the return of recovered mobile phones – either at police stations or, where feasible, delivered directly via courier to the rightful owner's residence,' Hareshwar Swami, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Delhi Metro, had told The Indian Express in February.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Canadian Comedians Finally Write a Joke So Good It Comes With Benefits
TORONTO and QUEBEC CITY, April 16, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Stand-up, Sketch & Improv Comedians (CASC) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the Canadian Freelance Union-Unifor (CFU) to advance the rights and benefits of Canadian comedians nationwide. Established in 2017 from comedian Sandra Battaglini's frustrations in the Canadian comedy landscape, CASC has been at the forefront of advocating for the recognition and support of comedians as vital contributors to Canada's cultural landscape. CASC members will now have access to resources and support systems tailored to the unique needs of freelance performers. CASC has been dedicated to building a thriving comedy industry in Canada by engaging comedians through advocacy, career opportunities, and professional development. The CFU represents freelance media, communication, and other professionals and offers services such as contract advice, grievance support, and health benefits. "Joining forces with Unifor and CFU represents a monumental leap forward for Canadian comedians. This partnership not only legitimizes our profession but also provides tangible benefits that address the longstanding challenges we've faced in the industry," said Clifford Myers, president of CASC. "It can get pretty depressing out there as a freelancer in Canada. CASC and CFU joining forces won't just make the CFU funnier, it will also brighten the lives of all unionized freelancers in Canada, as our strength in numbers grows our influence and capacity to fight for change," said Nora Loreto, president of CFU. Unifor's Community Chapters initiative is designed to extend union benefits to workers in non-traditional employment relationships, such as freelancers and independent contractors. Stand-up comedians now join a broader movement advocating for the rights and well-being of freelance professionals across various sectors. About CASC The Canadian Association of Stand-up Comedians is a not-for-profit organization committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive comedy industry in Canada. CASC advocates for comedians' rights, provides professional development opportunities, and works to elevate Canadian comedy on the global stage. About CFU The Canadian Freelance Union is dedicated to representing freelance professionals across various media and communication fields. CFU offers its members services, including contract advice, grievance support, and access to health and dental benefits, aiming to improve freelancers' working conditions and rights nationwide. Note: For more information on membership benefits and how to join CASC, please visit SOURCE Unifor View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
