South Africa's new Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, has caused an uproar by calling for her country to copy Zimbabwe's disastrous land reform policies in an attempt to speed up redistribution.
Mrs Mlambo-Ngcuka's remarks came shortly after a government summit to review South Africa's land reforms opted to drop the willing buyer/willing seller policy in favour of a new policy yet to be spelt out.
"Land reform in South Africa has been too slow and too structured. There needs to be a bit of 'oomph'. That's why we may need the skills of Zimbabwe to help us," she said at an education conference. "On agrarian and land reform, South Africa should learn some lessons from Zimbabwe - how to do it fast."
Read it here.
To any objective observer this demand is sheer insanity. Mugabe's policies have destroyed Zimbabwe's economy and inflicted horrendous suffering on his people. But he is a hero to many poor South Africans who are impatient with the slow pace of land transfer from white to black ownership in their country.
And, this is really scary. The article notes that this Mugabe wannabe is in the "pole position" to become South Africa's first female president. Normally I would cheer the rise of women to positions of power, but not in this case. Zimbabwe should stand as a cautionary tale, not an inspiration to action.
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