Zimbabwe’s land reform, which involved the seizure of land from white farmers, may have left the country in an economic bind, but Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) leader Julius Malema says black Zimbabweans are better off than their South African counterparts.
Malema, who is campaigning for the 3 August 2016 local government elections, made the remarks while addressing thousands of EFF members in Mogalakwena, Limpopo, on Tuesday evening.
“When we push for land reform, they say we are mad, we want to South Africa to be like Zimbabwe, but South Africa is worse than Zimbabwe, because Zimbabweans are suffering with their land in their hands,” said Malema.
He said Zimbabwe had the potential to recover after attaining true freedom by being the first African country to take back the land from whites.
Malema told supporters that if his EFF was “voted into power” it would give Africans land.
“White people must agree that they committed crime before they talk about reconciliation, then we will forgive them after they return our land,” said Malema.
The EFF leader said South Africa’s land reform was “misfiring” because the government feared “resembling its neighbour”.
“That is how our government has not protected our identity and our dignity as people. When we call for land restitution they said we want South Africa to be like Zimbabwe,” said Malema.
The economic meltdown in Zimbabwe, which can be traced back to the chaotic land reform which began in 2000, has resulted in the government being unable to pay civil servants on time.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
