Zimbabwe anyone?

[Doc]

Now old Bob has finally been deposed and the populace seem keen to rejoin the world and secure a future. Investment and expertise will be required.
Obviously still politically risky, but it's a country made for agriculture - soil, climate, huge labour resource, all about as good as you'd want it.
Young, keen, experienced and educated farmers will be the future for Zimbabwe.

 

[franklin]

I would be first in the queue.....

....sadly Mrs Static would be last in the queue.

 

[Doc]

If this happened 20 years ago. I'd go without a backward glance.
Indeed, I still might but will have to run it by the committee now.
Potentially exciting times for those prepared to take a leap of faith.

 

[spin cycle]

thinking the same myself doc

 

[ollie989898]

How your horses chaps, steady on there. You've no clue the bloke who replaces old Bob won't be every bit a tyrant as he was.

It will take some years before the place is politically stable enough to attract foreign investment that isn't Chinese and protected by the military.

 

[Bruce Almighty]

Don't trust them until they rename it Rhodesia !

 

[renewablejohn]

My cousin was lucky to get out unfortunately the neighbors not so. He went back on holiday and his once productive farm was now a dust bowl.

 

[David.]

There is a long queue of money boys in The City who have been waiting for this day, I'd not want to go before they do....

 

[Still Farming]

The place must have been great 40 yrs ago before this regime took back all the farms and wiped out the system under state ownership and killed and burnt the families out .
Pro's and Con's with it but sanctions against this country and its leader finished it .
Will these now be lifted.
Will the next leaders really be that different straight away ?

 

[bovrill]

I very nearly bought a place in Zambia 20 years ago, and have regretted ever since that I didn't.
I'd be out to Zim like a shot.

 

[Walterp]

In a country where you can be shot for the keys to your car, this is a deeply stupid idea.

The outcome of the Lancaster House treaty was to hand control of Zimbabwe to ZanuPF and its military and financial backer, China, in place of the only practical alternative (Joshua N'Komo's Zapu) because the UK and the USA preferred Africa to be a Chinese rather than a Russian sphere of influence.

Which was another deeply stupid idea, but there you go.

Given that Africa is now run largely by the Chinese Government (which explains why ex-Pres. Mugabe remains unexpectedly alive after the coup) it is unlikely that any UK farmers would find it a prudent business or personal move. The idea that the Vice President is, somehow, a precursor to a Western-style democracy is deluded.

The UK citizens who volunteer for annual missionary work in Zimbabwe confirm that the Matabele Land massacres at independence still provide an incendiary political backdrop, whilst life remains cheap, and often brutal, for much of the population.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

In a country where you can be shot for the keys to your car, this is a deeply stupid idea.

The outcome of the Lancaster House treaty was to hand control of Zimbabwe to ZanuPF and its military and financial backer, China, in place of the only practical alternative (Joshua N'Komo's Zapu) because the UK and the USA preferred Africa to be a Chinese rather than a Russian sphere of influence.

Which was another deeply stupid idea, but there you go.

Given that Africa is now run largely by the Chinese Government (which explains why ex-Pres. Mugabe remains unexpectedly alive after the coup) it is unlikely that any UK farmers would find it a prudent business or personal move. The idea that the Vice President is, somehow, a precursor to a Western-style democracy is deluded.

The UK citizens who volunteer for annual missionary work in Zimbabwe confirm that the Matabele Land massacres at independence still provide an incendiary political backdrop, whilst life remains cheap, and often brutal, for much of the population.

Walt, your first sentence also applies to Chicago, as for the Zimbabwean's that have come here, they have no desire to return, be they black or white.

 

[Still Farming]

Tribal

 

[neilo]

The guy they're swearing in as the new President, has spent the last twenty years standing alongside King Bob. Nothing is going to change there, and the News next week will (briefly) cover the new regime using the army to crack down on all the folks expressing an opinion in the streets today.

I'll pass thanks.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

In a country where you can be shot for the keys to your car, this is a deeply stupid idea.

You've obviously never farmed against the edge of Grimsby.

 

[Sid]

You've obviously never farmed against the edge of Grimsby.

Or South Africa. Highes murder rate in the world i believe

 

[Campbell]

New an old farmer who went to Tanzania on the infamous and failed Ground Nut Scheme of 1948. But he always spoke well of the East African land of opportunity, where men hang around all day watching the women do all the work. Don't think it has changed that much since.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Or South Africa. Highes murder rate in the world i believe

And 5 times more likely to get murdered if you're a farmer (in South Africa, not Grimsby).

 

[Danllan]

Zimbabwe has enormous potential, but there is no chance that it will be fully realised while ZANUPF hold power. Mnangagwa will be a new president, but he is of the party old-guard; he is just as corrupt as Mugabe, he is just as cruel as Mugabe, however, he has two qualities Mugabe doesn't have: physical courage and pragmatism.

It is a near certainty that he will do all that is necessary to keep himself, his party and Chinese business interests to the fore. Expect some liberalisation of trade, some budgetary prudence and an awful lot of empty promises. Expect elections to be rigged again and expect death-threats to his opponents.

My family are out of farming in Zim now, and they miss it viscerally; but my cousins who closed up there have told me there is no way that they would risk everything there again without external guarantees on investment, I know others who have said the same. Who can blame them? I can't see external guarantors stepping forward and I can't see Mnangagwa wanting any more whites in the country. I hope to be proven wrong on both counts.

Mugabe won the first elections fair and square, to the surprise of everyone except the black majority. He liked power and decided to keep it - old joke, African democracy = one man, one vote, once. Mnangagwa was with him every step of the way. He is a nasty brutal man, there is a great hatred for him and his mob in Matabeleland; but it is of no relevance because the population has diminished relative to others and all power is in Shona hands - the Shona remember Matabele oppression too.

Anyone thinking of investing in Africa? Too late chaps*, China rules the roost and they don't have any rules to follow. Maybe, just maybe, there might be an opportunity one day if the povo realise what's happening and can be bothered to rebel. But probably not.

*Edited to add: I got ahead of myself, thinking of agriculture only, in fact there are still opportunities in the safari & hunting field, we do it best and there is so much money in it that Africans will recognise this and take a cut.

 

[Bill the Bass]

I'll take my chances with Brexit and Corbyn thanks.