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Nestle Buys Milk From Farms Mugabe Seized

Zimbabwean leader's wife sells 265K gallons a year to food giant

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 28, 2009 4:43 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Nestle is buying up to 265,000 gallons of milk a year from a Zimbabwean farm seized from white landowners and now owned by the wife of Robert Mugabe. Grace Mugabe has taken over at least six of the country's most valuable farms, reports the Telegraph. As a Swiss company, Nestle is exempted from tough US and EU sanctions targeting Zimbabwe's leaders, including Mugabe's wife, who is said to own about 12,000 acres of farmland.

Nestle does not deny it does business with Mrs. Mugabe's farm but told the BBC it had no contract, making only cash-on-delivery purchases after its other suppliers collapsed. "Had Nestle decided to close down its operations in Zimbabwe, the company would have triggered further food shortages and hundreds of job losses," it said.

President Robert Mugabe walks during the inauguration ceremony, watched by his wife Grace, at the State House in Harare, Sunday, June, 29, 2008.
President Robert Mugabe walks during the inauguration ceremony, watched by his wife Grace, at the State House in Harare, Sunday, June, 29, 2008.   (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Nestle logo is seen at the company's headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland.
The Nestle logo is seen at the company's headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron, File)
Grace Mugabe greets supporters on their arrival for Independence Day celebrations in Harare last year.
Grace Mugabe greets supporters on their arrival for Independence Day celebrations in Harare last year.   (AP Photo/File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
cognitivefilter
Sep 29, 2009 3:34 AM CDT
TYPICAL. NESTLE RAPES FOR MONEY. Nestle is one of the greediest corporations of all time. this is happening in our country too--they siphon off of natural springs to sell our own water back to us for a 700% profit or something ridiculous.
Unaffiliated
Sep 28, 2009 12:03 PM CDT
I'm not so sure they will...
ifbit
Sep 28, 2009 11:32 AM CDT
Far from being neutral, Switzerland has perhaps long been the unabashed opportunist of Europe.
Money • World

 
Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • milk • Nestle • food industry • Grace Mugabe

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