Mzembi warns S.A. against copying land reform agenda
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Management Walter Mzembi has warned South African President Jacob not to copy how Zimbabwe implemented its land reform. Instead, Mzembi counselled Zuma to develop a homegrown solution which does not rely on Marxism which he said was disastrous for Africa. Zuma is calling for radical land reform in South Africa and was quoted as saying
…no one is saying let us go and grab land. We are saying let us do everything within the law and, if we don’t have the law or the constitution doesn’t agree, let’s correct the constitution.
Speaking to the Financial Times in Bangkok, Mzembi said:
Do not carbon copy our revolution, evolve your own model. Land was the bedrock of our struggle. It is a less emotive issue [in South Africa] than in Zimbabwe.”
I get the sense that our neighbours are a little bit more business driven. Black business economic empowerment has been more important and more successful [in South Africa].”
…there could be more pressure [for land reform in South Africa] maybe from Malema [but] we copied Marxism for so long in Africa with dire consequences.
We were left with something that didn’t work at all. [Soviet president Mikhail] Gorbachev abandoned it and we were left like this. It’s always better to have a homegrown solution.
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