/ 9 November 2000

BIG BUSINESS BACKS MBEKI OVER ZIM

SOUTH African companies, including mining giant Anglo-American Corporation, will place advertisements in local and British newspapers to voice their support for President Thabo Mbeki’s policy on Zimbabwe. Government communications chief Joel Netshitenze said business had volunteered to place the adverts to correct the “massive misperceptions” in the local and British press that Mbeki had backed farm invasions in Zimbabwe. Mbeki last month told the South African Chamber of Business he would never allow land grabs at home, but had could not allow Zimbabwe’s economy to collapse as that would impact negatively on South Africa’s economy. – AFP