Opinion / Columnist
Future land wars in Zimbabwe
15 Aug 2012 at 18:53hrs | Views
Future land wars in Zimbabwe will pit black against black and not whites Vs blacks. While the draft constitution in the eyes of white Zimbabweans is not favourable to them concerning their recent land loses plus the absence of a remedy for the evictions, but drawing our eyes closer into the core matter, this discontentment doesn't only affect whites; blacks are quite affected in a number of ways.
Many have claimed that whites are the most affected by the Robert Mugabe's land grab program, but in earnest the blacks are as much affected, and such a view fails to evaluate the impact and effects of the land allocations on majority black Zimbabweans communities.
Had the redistribution of land been implemented by a government not partisan, but a state representing interests of Zimbabweans, it would not raise so much such hatred, anger among the populace especially blacks, far much greater than their white counter parts.
There are regions in Zimbabwe where there have been 'aliens' coming from other areas as far as over 500 km to get land ahead of landless locals.
The extent of government sponsored 'alien' settlement in other regions ahead of locals is the fodder for future land wars as was on Friday 06, stupidly echoed by Environment and Natural Resources Management Minister Francis Nhema and his Youth Development Indigenisation and Empowerment counterpart Saviour Kasukuwere speaking during a stakeholders meeting on indigenisation in Lupane, Matabeleland North. Minister Nhema was quoted in his address saying:"The region, Matabeleland North, in particular, is richer than other provinces because all resources are found here," said Minister Nhema who continued, "…But what do you have? During the land reform most people in Matabeleland doubted the programme and did not take the land. People from other regions came and benefited."
Zimbabwe's land situation needs wider participation, recognition of local communities and not trampling on values and concerns that communities have, because that is the root of future LAND wars. The land issue in Zimbabwe for future purposes and for future peace needs real consideration, evaluation and greater understanding by the government.
Following land grabs in recent years, Zimbabwe has seen land dispute wars of black against black spilling into courts involving high profile individuals in government such as Vice President John Nkomo's marathon court battle to wrestle the 611.79 hectare safari lodge from a certian Langton Masunda, which the Supreme Court finally ruled in favour of John Nkomo.
Already there has been an incidence of violence in this case when John Nkomo's body guard, Sigogo shot and wounded Masunda's brother Patrick: this I would say is just light showers ahead of an approaching storm, an indication of what is in store for this great country.
Secondly we have seen high profile documented land battles of First Lady Grace Mugabe pushing out High Court judge Ben Hlatshwayo from Gwina Farm in Banket.Analyzing the land issues in the perspective of historical land conflicts like the recent Kenyan inter-ethnic violence, one can as well conclude that Zimbabwe is still at potential risk to find itself in bloody land wars.
Land issues in Zimbabwe seem to raise racial tensions more than tribal tensions, but overall raising political temperatures most, while tribal land faulty lines are masked away. Some people may start to think am beating war or tribal drums. No, thus not the case.
The real issue about the land is we are seating on our own time bomb at our risk, at our own peril like our neighbours South Africa. When we consider South Africa's simmering land issue, yes, it's easy to assume that South Africa might be at a worse position than Zimbabwe. I would not say Zimbabwe is at a better position, but we are both on the edge, seated on a time bomb, the difference being the gravity and the nature of the explosions. We might say we have seen the worst and have crossed the bridge but it might not be when we look at and study events in the build up to Burundi and Kenya violence.
Equally worrying on land issue is the silence and seemingly disinterest by political challengers to Zanu PF, to confront, engage and debate fully the land grab and redistribution consequences. So much energy and talk has been directed at challenging the merits and application of the Indigenization program, to the detriment of the real issue: the LAND and violence.
At the moment political parties gunning for control of government seem to scatter the land issue, burying their heads in the sand, but truly not far from now, the sound of voices of the affected people will travel faster and deeper than their heads are buried with devastating consequences.
Previous land redistributions need to be revisited to reverse the injustices and avert potential black land wars. If the incoming governments after Zanu PF choose to remain silent or turn a blind eye on land grabs and unjust redistributions, I would say, not taking action to effect required change for the benefit of the people is equally as corrupt as those who participated in land grabs for self aggrandizement because both ends, inaction Vs action are extremes equally apart and perpendicular to the required solution which is midway.
It now remains to be seen if the next government will act to reverse the unjust land redistribution imbalances in accordance with terms of Chapter 2 of draft constitution if adopted, which states that on Development and empowerment, all State and governmental institutions and agencies at every level must endeavour to facilitate rapid and equitable development, and in particular must take measures- To redress imbalances resulting from past practices and policies; The State must ensure that, where appropriate and practicable, the people of an area benefit from the resources in that area.
It is relevant at this point to note that Zimbabwe's recent history is all but about LAND, and when those in authority now and in future governments deal with the land issue, they should do so in a manner that in retrospect, 5, 25, 75, 100 years from now they would say, 'We did not plant a seed of destruction in the country."
Clement Moyo writes in his own capacity and views expressed here are his, and do not represent any organisation or group.
Many have claimed that whites are the most affected by the Robert Mugabe's land grab program, but in earnest the blacks are as much affected, and such a view fails to evaluate the impact and effects of the land allocations on majority black Zimbabweans communities.
Had the redistribution of land been implemented by a government not partisan, but a state representing interests of Zimbabweans, it would not raise so much such hatred, anger among the populace especially blacks, far much greater than their white counter parts.
There are regions in Zimbabwe where there have been 'aliens' coming from other areas as far as over 500 km to get land ahead of landless locals.
The extent of government sponsored 'alien' settlement in other regions ahead of locals is the fodder for future land wars as was on Friday 06, stupidly echoed by Environment and Natural Resources Management Minister Francis Nhema and his Youth Development Indigenisation and Empowerment counterpart Saviour Kasukuwere speaking during a stakeholders meeting on indigenisation in Lupane, Matabeleland North. Minister Nhema was quoted in his address saying:"The region, Matabeleland North, in particular, is richer than other provinces because all resources are found here," said Minister Nhema who continued, "…But what do you have? During the land reform most people in Matabeleland doubted the programme and did not take the land. People from other regions came and benefited."
Zimbabwe's land situation needs wider participation, recognition of local communities and not trampling on values and concerns that communities have, because that is the root of future LAND wars. The land issue in Zimbabwe for future purposes and for future peace needs real consideration, evaluation and greater understanding by the government.
Following land grabs in recent years, Zimbabwe has seen land dispute wars of black against black spilling into courts involving high profile individuals in government such as Vice President John Nkomo's marathon court battle to wrestle the 611.79 hectare safari lodge from a certian Langton Masunda, which the Supreme Court finally ruled in favour of John Nkomo.
Already there has been an incidence of violence in this case when John Nkomo's body guard, Sigogo shot and wounded Masunda's brother Patrick: this I would say is just light showers ahead of an approaching storm, an indication of what is in store for this great country.
Secondly we have seen high profile documented land battles of First Lady Grace Mugabe pushing out High Court judge Ben Hlatshwayo from Gwina Farm in Banket.Analyzing the land issues in the perspective of historical land conflicts like the recent Kenyan inter-ethnic violence, one can as well conclude that Zimbabwe is still at potential risk to find itself in bloody land wars.
Land issues in Zimbabwe seem to raise racial tensions more than tribal tensions, but overall raising political temperatures most, while tribal land faulty lines are masked away. Some people may start to think am beating war or tribal drums. No, thus not the case.
The real issue about the land is we are seating on our own time bomb at our risk, at our own peril like our neighbours South Africa. When we consider South Africa's simmering land issue, yes, it's easy to assume that South Africa might be at a worse position than Zimbabwe. I would not say Zimbabwe is at a better position, but we are both on the edge, seated on a time bomb, the difference being the gravity and the nature of the explosions. We might say we have seen the worst and have crossed the bridge but it might not be when we look at and study events in the build up to Burundi and Kenya violence.
Equally worrying on land issue is the silence and seemingly disinterest by political challengers to Zanu PF, to confront, engage and debate fully the land grab and redistribution consequences. So much energy and talk has been directed at challenging the merits and application of the Indigenization program, to the detriment of the real issue: the LAND and violence.
At the moment political parties gunning for control of government seem to scatter the land issue, burying their heads in the sand, but truly not far from now, the sound of voices of the affected people will travel faster and deeper than their heads are buried with devastating consequences.
Previous land redistributions need to be revisited to reverse the injustices and avert potential black land wars. If the incoming governments after Zanu PF choose to remain silent or turn a blind eye on land grabs and unjust redistributions, I would say, not taking action to effect required change for the benefit of the people is equally as corrupt as those who participated in land grabs for self aggrandizement because both ends, inaction Vs action are extremes equally apart and perpendicular to the required solution which is midway.
It now remains to be seen if the next government will act to reverse the unjust land redistribution imbalances in accordance with terms of Chapter 2 of draft constitution if adopted, which states that on Development and empowerment, all State and governmental institutions and agencies at every level must endeavour to facilitate rapid and equitable development, and in particular must take measures- To redress imbalances resulting from past practices and policies; The State must ensure that, where appropriate and practicable, the people of an area benefit from the resources in that area.
It is relevant at this point to note that Zimbabwe's recent history is all but about LAND, and when those in authority now and in future governments deal with the land issue, they should do so in a manner that in retrospect, 5, 25, 75, 100 years from now they would say, 'We did not plant a seed of destruction in the country."
Clement Moyo writes in his own capacity and views expressed here are his, and do not represent any organisation or group.
Source - Clement Moyo
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