Historical Context of Land Issues in Zimbabwe

For decades the land question remained a topical issue in Zimbabwe. Two decades after independence in 1980, discontent was now constantly and increasingly expressed against the Government by the rural population and war veterans who were demanding the fulfillment of the promises made during the liberation war of taking the land from the mainly white commercial farmers and returning it back to the black majority.

Inevitably, contradictions in the Zimbabwean society were coming to a head. Then at the turn of the twenty first century, came the Jambanja era, heralding a landmark in Zimbabwe's struggle to redistribute the land.

The Jambanja Era and Land Redistribution

The white farmer had to be replaced by the native black farmer and inevitably some violent skirmishes became part of the Jambanja. The British Crown and its Western allies were up in arms against the Government of Zimbabwe and sanctions were visited upon the country.

Questions of Justice and Consequences

Who was to blame? As long as the white minority remained on the land, was justice being served? Were the land reform proponents able to confound all predictions and accomplish what was deemed impossible? Were the consequences worth the trouble?

Final Reflection

In the final analysis, when you discard the politics and separate the facts from the propaganda you will find Zimbabwe a traumatized nation.