Future land wars in Zimbabwe?

 

 

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 redistribution 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 distributions, 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. Thanks to some online publications!