/ 4 August 2001

ZIMBABWE WANTS APOLOGY FROM BRITAIN

ZIMBABWE will push for an apology and compensation for the dispossession of its land by its former colonial master, Britain, at the upcoming United Nations World Racism Conference, the justice minister said on Wednesday. At the conference in South Africa later this month, Zimbabwe will insist on an “express apology by former colonial masters” and the setting up of two funds to make reparations for slavery and to victims of colonialism, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told a news conference. “An apology should be forthcoming, reparations should also be made available,” the minister said. “As black people, like Jews, we also deserve an apology for the human rights violations that were committed against us as a race,” said Chinamasa. Zimbabwe will demand the setting up of a development fund to compensate for the land dispute currently polarising the country. – AFP