We all wondered what would happen when there were no more farms left to grab, now we know.

We all wondered what would happen when there were no more farms left to grab and this week we got the answer. It's not diamonds as we thought, those are undoubtedly destined only for the very deep, velvet lined pockets of the really big wigs. It's the companies and businesses that are next.

After a year of appeals, conferences and seminars to try and attract investors back to Zimbabwe, everything was wasted in a single stroke this week. A new regulation has just been gazetted requiring that all local and foreign owned companies must hand over at least 51 per cent ownership to "indigenous" Zimbabweans. Multiple thousands of companies are going to be affected and economists predict that many local industries will be forced into bankruptcy.

An article in the UK Daily Telegraph quotes an expert who explains the implications in simple language that anyone can understand: "Daniel Ndlela, Zimbabwe's most eminent regional economist said: "There will be no foreign investment into Zimbabwe. Why would anyone come into Zimbabwe with $100 and be left with $49? ... those who might have invested in Zimbabwe will now never come."

This new regulation does not just affect foreign companies but also those belonging to Zimbabweans whose skin happens to not be black. It affects men and women who were born here, went to school and university here, built homes and businesses here and have lived in Zimbabwe all their lives - people who know no other country but Zimbabwe.

Standing chatting to a young "indigenous" Zimbabwean one evening this week he said to me:
"It shames me to say that nowadays if you are white you are always in the wrong. Even if you are in the right, if you are white, you are wrong."
"Like it was for blacks before 1980?" I suggested.
He laughed and said :"I don't know, I wasn't even born then!"
We slapped hands in that Zimbabwean way of sharing a good laugh and changed the topic.

We've just heard that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is talking about elections in April next year. "Park and proceed" is what the PM is saying. Everyone knows that the endless stalling and so called negotiations between Zanu PF and the MDC are never going to be resolved. As MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said this week: " We don't want to keep Zimbabweans in suspense and anxiety. We are holding everyone to ransom."

They are indeed because all we want to do is get on with our lives, change, improve, prosper and stop going backwards. So lets park that rusty old bus and proceed. What a good idea.

Copyright cathy buckle 21 November 2009.

www.cathybuckle.com

For information on my new book: "INNOCENT VICTIMS" or my previous
books, "African Tears" and "Beyond Tears," or to
subscribe/unsubscribe to this newsletter, please write to: cbuckle@mango.zw

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The big question Define "indigenous" - all sorts of racist land mines in that one. by Sad days on February 13 2010, 15:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

mugabage duck Zimbabwe offthrow the bastard u chicken liver cowards by sudanstud on February 14 2010, 07:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Mugabe's actions (and all the other African dictators) affect investment in all African countries, including SA. by CV on February 14 2010, 08:34 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

SADC - Southern African Dimwits and Cowards When will our "leaders" grow some balls and unequivocally state that what is happening in Zim must stop? Are they wating for every single Zimbabwean to cross the border creating even more tension in our townships before starting a process of . .more isolating the Zim govt? Every minute of inaction just reduces our "leaders'" waning credibility on the world stage.... . .less by no longer shocking... on February 14 2010, 09:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Like it was for blacks before 1980? Buckle deserves to be in the mess she is in. by Obla di obla da on February 14 2010, 09:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

same policy as sa this is exactly the same as the sa bbbee policy by bbb on February 14 2010, 10:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sympathy has run The country is Fooked ------If you choose to stay there then you know the outcome --its your choice ! by George on February 14 2010, 12:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

With people like Julius waiting in the wings......................................... SOUTH AFRICA IS NEXT.iT PAINS ME TO SAY THAT. by rota roota on February 14 2010, 18:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Nationalise It is an interesting logic. Same as Julius who says we will nationalise da mines and foreign industry will then invest.... really.... you think so? I said a year ago it will now be easy to see the biggest idiots around.... those who . .more believed Mugabe when he said da foreign investments will be safe... I don't think any person with a brain bought that.... Problem is Zim has not sufferred enough. At AA they say an alcoholic needs to hit rock bottom before seeking help. Zim will only start to look for a recovery when there is nothing and I mean nothing left. The mistake people keep making is that they think things cannot get worse. History has shown that they can. The sign of rock bottom.... when the people say... it is time to get rid of Mugabe! . .less by Charlie Chaplin on February 14 2010, 20:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

chickens always come home to roost winge winge winge from the whites...remember when u took all our land and mines hee hee hee....we are just taking back whats ours. The situation in Zimbabwe is not as bad as it is reflected here. Empowerment is neccesary and will be done ina . .more sensitive manner..the press laways dramatises...it could be worse..lets see where u okes in SA end up...when the mines get nationalised..u will all flock to zim cause its the safest place on earth to live and offers incredible returns on investments..the smart ones are already here..... . .less by zimbo on February 15 2010, 00:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Zimbo Zimbo the Bimbo, or is it Dumbo, not sure... by Johan on February 15 2010, 00:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"Park and Proceed" Yes, these were the words used by the prancing penile president Zuma. I see Tsvangarai has picked up on them. Fantastic african logic. You are supposed to be going on a long journey but now have to "park". Er, can anyone tell me how . .more you will proceed if the vehicle is parked? What a bunch of moronic, thieving, lying, murderous goons this lot is. . .less by Plutarch on February 15 2010, 00:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The dictatorship continues It is of no surprise that Mad Bob would put forward such a ludicrous act. His coffers are getting empty - Grace needs more mink coats and diamond jewellery. One wonders what SADEC has to say about this, or will it be a matter of "quite . .more diplomacy" - whilst SA gets runover by illegal fence jumpers. @Zimbo - get some education. Start reading to increase your knowledge and perspective of the world. Stop being so narrow and backward minded. . .less by Black Professional on February 15 2010, 02:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ZIMBO Are u sober? What chickens in ZIm? by Alien visiting Earth on February 15 2010, 02:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zimbabwe Economic Policy Zimbabwe Economic Policy is designed to make a few government ministers rich. ANC seems to be starting to make similar errors in judgment when devising economic policy. They should look to Zim to see how quickly things can unravel if and when bad . .more economic policies are followed. They should not become too complacent. . .less by BobHopes on February 15 2010, 02:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Nats... I don't even for a second ever consider putting the old south african regime back into power, but they would have sorted this bloody mess out a long time ago... Mugabe is a cancer, and if you dont remove a cancer in the early stages, it will kill . .more the whole country! . .less by Simon on February 15 2010, 02:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Bobhopes You are correct but only partially so. I think the lesson of Zimbabwe tells us very plainly that a small cabal of thoroughly evil and sepicable maniacs can dismantle a country right down to the bare bones and get away with it. in my . .more opinion the damage done to the country runs into the hundreds of billions of dollars (US). To be blunt; the entire edifice of colonial development and progress has been comprehensively looted and sold. Does mugabe, and by implication his supporters in SA give a tinker's cuss for notions of freedom, justice, habeas corpus, and national wealth generation? And do they qualify to be dealt with as human beings in terms of ant international norms? finally, things have not unravelled quickly in Zimbabwe; the process has been agonisingly slow but chillingly thorough. There is nothing left in that country except a bunch of cro magnons viviously transpoted back to the pre-Jurassic . .less by Cassandra on February 15 2010, 03:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Park this bus! Could we not park a special bus in front of the Mugabe residence... you know, those special ones filled with C4, or nitro-glycerine or TNT. It seems there will be no other way to stop the destruction of Zim! by Saddened! on February 15 2010, 03:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Park the Bus We should park the bus on Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies. by Angel on February 15 2010, 03:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Cathy Why are you still there Cathy? Do you want to be the last white in Zimbabwe? Nobody cares about that dump any longer- get out. So boring even talking about it. Another African failure- the hopeless continent. by Batman on February 15 2010, 04:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

PLEASE EXPLAIN Why is it ok that a handful of blacks (ministers) can become rich to the expense of everyone, and mostly poor balcks and get away with it. Why is it ok? by @zimbo on February 15 2010, 04:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Zimbo The whites discovered the mineral riches, put money in and built a business you tosser so why do you think it belongs to the indigenous blacks??? by JvR on February 15 2010, 04:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Zimbo We should park the bus on both Mugabe and Zimbo.... by JJ on February 15 2010, 04:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

king bob Q: What does an apple and Mugabe have in common? A: They both look pretty hanging from a tree. Q: What is the difference between Mugabe and a bucket of sh*t? A: The bucket. by bulwayo on February 15 2010, 05:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Yawn .... I am so tired of hearing about Bob putting one over the "indigenous" Zimbabwians .... you idiots elected him, you allow him to continue doing these things, you whine to the rest of the world like we are going to send people to over throw him ... you . .more have what you deserve. . .less by Sadsack - UK on February 15 2010, 05:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The same thing Unfortunately this is the same approach being punted by Julius M. He's put it slightly in the background by saying the state might actually pay the companies for the mines, but they'd prefer to get them for free. After all, the companies have paid . .more for all the exploration and the building of the mines, saving the state untold billions. @Zimbo - well, there weren't mines back then. And what about the fact that many of the black people in this part of the world got the land they were on by murdering the black people who'd been there before them? . .less by CTheB on February 15 2010, 07:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

how europe underdeveloped africa I suggest you guys read the above article...arent you whiteys meant to be well read ....whites developed the mines yeah right......where did the capital come from? and the labour......slave labour of course...capital was raised from exporting . .more stolen minerals to Europe...however this does not justify human rights abuses at all nor does it nullify empowerment of blacks which will happen for sure....so all these noises to me reflect a very shallow appreciation of the dynamics of the impact of colonialism and capitalism on Africa...enough said . .less by from Zimbo... on February 15 2010, 08:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Shame Cathy but the blacks will steal EVERYTHING the whites have Why do you not see that? by Realist on February 15 2010, 08:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Is Zimbo a reflection of the average black here? There seems to be many presumably black posts about how what is happening in Zim is Ok, not so bad or exactly what SA needs (i.e. nationalisation). Doesn't matter how many times African countries go through this process - I mean Zambia also . .more had it in the 60s if memory serves correctly.... how they all begged to have the "bad old times" back. As a Mozambiquen friend told me once: "After we chased out the white people, things became terrible - we cried for steak" If the indigenous wants a mine, give them an open piece of veld, and let them build their own mine. Whats stopping them from creating news mines? Why do they always want to nationalise (steal) ALREADY BUILT mines.... The wealth is not in the minerals under ground, but in the expertise of bringing it to the surface and refining it you idiot Zimbo and all the others like you. . .less by Capitalist on February 15 2010, 08:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ from Zimbo... And if you were well read you'd know the degree to which that book was criticised and why and you wouldn't simply agree with it because it fits a point of view that you happen to like. by CTheB on February 15 2010, 09:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

IN SA we just skipped straight to the businesses. by Fred on February 16 2010, 00:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Zimbo Europe didn't underdevelop Africa, Africans did not develop themselves. You are used to sitting under trees leaving the women to plough the lands. The climate is suitable for being lazy, everything just grows. This is African . .more culture. In Europe they had to move forward because of the climate, it's cold so they had to find ways to create heat, produce food, and so on. Don't blame first world people for your own culture. Accept it and move on. . .less by Angel on February 16 2010, 03:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Cathy-Zimbabwe Embrace Africa Cathy and move on-thats the way it is. by David Livingstone on February 16 2010, 03:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Angel I don't think there's any denying that some European countries and companies, along with some other foreign entities, have had a hand in the manner in which Africa has developed (or not developed). However, it has been shown that it is dishonest to . .more try to lay all the blame on those particular shoulders, not to mention blatantly racist. One reason is immediately obvious - outside of Africa there are a number of former colonies that have done very well, so there must have been something that those who took over did that Africans have failed to do. Also, many African countries were never colonies and cannot claim to have been exploited by Europeans or anyone else and yet are still in the same boat as pretty much every other African country. One of the major reasons that How Europe Underdeveloped Africa has been criticised for at least 20 years now is that using the authors own data it has been shown that the conclusions he drew were fabrications. He was merely serving up something that supported communism because he was a communist. . .less by CTheB on February 16 2010, 04:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Wipe him out It seems almost incomprehensible that no body has assassinated Mugabe yet. Everybody watches, complains, and writes books/articles about how that country is being destroyed. Now we have another "election" coming up, what will be different?? For . .more every extra year that blood sucker is in power, it will take another 10 for reconstruction (with Western handouts and aid). Yes, if you can't wipe him out, park the bus. . .less by Airwolf on February 16 2010, 10:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Colonialism Has any country in Africa been under colonial rule longer than South Africa? by Jan on February 16 2010, 14:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Ruminate for a second Yes Mugabe's antics are foolish More thought should be put into this nationalisation debate. How do the likes of Anglo benefit ordinary citizens from day to day? They provide a couple thousand jobs but at what cost? The finite . .more natural resources of our country? Our GOD given wealth is being remitted to fat cats living in other countries through dividends etc When the party stops and the ore is barren South Africans will be left with nothing. . .less by Ghettogladiator on February 17 2010, 01:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Zimbo What chickens? They left with the rest of us, never to return! by exZimbo on February 17 2010, 09:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Whats the diff Zim used to be a big exporter of beef, maize, soyabean, tobacco and more. Today there is nothing, not even money to import food. Same soil, rain, weather - so whats the diff - black farmers replaced white farmers. As easy as that. by Realist on February 18 2010, 02:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

To all fellow white South Africans Life here, work here, but for heavens sake, USE YOUR OFFSHORE ALLOWANCES. The Rand wont for ever stay at R7.5, we'll wake up one day when the foreigners are disillusioned at see this thing at much worse levels. MAKE SUR YOUR DEBT IS HERE AND YOUR . .more ASSETS ARE OFFSHORE . .less by Piet on February 18 2010, 22:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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