News / International
Scottish National Party official defends Mugabe's land invasions
12 May 2013 at 04:29hrs | Views
A Frenchman in line to become a Scottish Nationalist MSP has been criticised for defending President Robert Mugabe's notorious land reform policies.
Christian Allard said Mugabe's land redistribution, was needed, and slammed an award-winning film, Mugabe and The White African, as being "for white people to support white people".
In a series of internet postings, Allard savaged the film, saying: "I agree the comments from the dictator are often vile, but so are the comments of Mike Campbell ... Let me be clear, they are men from the past who refuse to accept that Africa is moving on.
"Robert Mugabe and Mike Campbell won't be there for long and every copy of this 'documentary' should be buried with them."
He also wrote: "Mike Campbell, a South African army captain - came to Zimbabwe from South Africa in 1974, in the middle of the guerrilla war against the black majority ... Original Rhodesian white farmers have now all left or have complied with the land reform."
He added: "This 'documentary' was made for white people to support white people to keep hold of the land in Africa."
The documentary's producers, Elizabeth Hemlock and David Pearson, said: "Mr Allard seems to have no concern about the violence directed at the Campbell and Freeth families and [about] the 500 farm workers and their families who lived on the farm.
"The Campbell family were kidnapped and brutally beaten and the injuries sustained by Mike Campbell contributed to his death in 2011."
On Friday, Allard said: "I feel very sorry for the white farmers and what happened to them, but the black majority are suffering more."
However, the SNP press office then provided a statement in his name. It said: "Like every right-thinking person, I abhor the regime of Robert Mugabe and its brutal land grabs. My point is that land reform must always be pursued democratically and consensually."
Christian Allard said Mugabe's land redistribution, was needed, and slammed an award-winning film, Mugabe and The White African, as being "for white people to support white people".
In a series of internet postings, Allard savaged the film, saying: "I agree the comments from the dictator are often vile, but so are the comments of Mike Campbell ... Let me be clear, they are men from the past who refuse to accept that Africa is moving on.
"Robert Mugabe and Mike Campbell won't be there for long and every copy of this 'documentary' should be buried with them."
He also wrote: "Mike Campbell, a South African army captain - came to Zimbabwe from South Africa in 1974, in the middle of the guerrilla war against the black majority ... Original Rhodesian white farmers have now all left or have complied with the land reform."
He added: "This 'documentary' was made for white people to support white people to keep hold of the land in Africa."
The documentary's producers, Elizabeth Hemlock and David Pearson, said: "Mr Allard seems to have no concern about the violence directed at the Campbell and Freeth families and [about] the 500 farm workers and their families who lived on the farm.
"The Campbell family were kidnapped and brutally beaten and the injuries sustained by Mike Campbell contributed to his death in 2011."
On Friday, Allard said: "I feel very sorry for the white farmers and what happened to them, but the black majority are suffering more."
However, the SNP press office then provided a statement in his name. It said: "Like every right-thinking person, I abhor the regime of Robert Mugabe and its brutal land grabs. My point is that land reform must always be pursued democratically and consensually."
Source - www.heraldscotland.com
