The Importance of a Successful Land Reform Programme;
Land Invasions and the Responsibility of Parties represented in Parliament to Uphold the Rule of Law.

Cheryllyn Dudley MP (ACDP)

Friday, 16 November 2001

Speech by African Christian Democratic Party MP Cheryllyn Dudley, debated in Parliament yesterday:

Madam Speaker,
Botswana's President Festus Mogae, has launched a scathing attack on his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, for his failure to deal with the land resettlement programme in his country in a peaceful way. Mogae said regional leaders were becoming frustrated with the situation in Zimbabwe because it is affecting their economies. He singled out war veterans and the Harare administration's failure to deal with the violent occupation of white farms as potential obstacles to peace and stability in the region while equally blaming commercial farmers for refusing to relinquish land voluntarily. Mogae argued that the programme would have been successful had it followed the correct structural and legal reform frameworks, instead of turning into violence. He believes that "the [Abuja] agreement provides a good framework for the restoration of law and order."
The African Christian Democratic Party congratulates Pres Mogae on courageously speaking out when others have chosen to keep silent.
South Africa’s land reform programme consists of land restitution, land redistribution and tenure reform and its aim is to ensure the transfer of 30% of all agricultural land over a period of 15 years.
The ACDP recognizes the importance of a successful land reform programme and commends the minister in that she and her department have remained steadfast under pressure, in their determination to uphold the rule of law and to retain and improve existing standards of utilization. With this in mind we encourage all South Africans to take up the challenge of working together toward achieving a fair and just society for all South Africans.

Africa is a continent blessed with abundant resources and is capable of feeding the entire world yet poverty and hardships abound. The ACDP believes that when our leaders and our constitution acknowledge the God of creation, not only my King but the King of Kings, curses and poverty will be lifted off of our land, making way for blessing and prosperity. A wrong can never be put right if the same means are used simply to reverse a situation. This is true when it comes to the rule of law and parties represented in parliament have a responsibility to uphold law and order. Laws, of course, which violate God’s law, are not legitimate.

The Almighty God is a God of Justice; (Is 30:18) we please Him when
we do what is right, just and fair; (Prov 1) neither showing favouritism,
nor denying justice to the poor . (Ex 23)

If we compromise in doing right we will reap the consequences and violence and suffering will continue to be our portion.

God, family and property are closely linked, if you touch one you touch the others. This is why socialism and communism target family and private ownership of property in their opposition to God. Private ownership of property was ordained by God and firmly grounded in His law. Karl Marx wrote in the Communist Manifesto of 1847 that “the theory of the communists may be summed up in a single sentence: abolition of private property”. He saw clearly that property is power, whoever controls property has liberty and whoever surrenders it surrenders liberty.

God places this power and liberty in the family’s hands and not the states. When the state grows in its control over property, it grows in the same degree toward totalitarian power and tyranny will result. We cannot however, over simplify the matter by seeing capitalism as an anti-dote to socialism…all “ism’s” are man’s futile attempt to exclude God and do things our way. God’s way does not fit into our categories it requires His constant guidance and brings positive results and a nation blessed.


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For more information please call Cheryllyn Dudley MP at 082 8906520 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 4781037