In the hands of those in power, history is often the first and greatest casualty. It’s a convenient weapon, twisted and reshaped to fit narratives that absolve the powerful and blame external forces. We see this play out time and again, and nowhere is it more evident than in the recent pronouncements from figures like Mr. Mnangagwa regarding Zimbabwe’s land reform.
The narrative is tired, predictable, and frankly, insulting to the intelligence of the Zimbabwean people. To suggest, yet again, that the ‘colonial master’ somehow conspired to block successful land redistribution is a disingenuous attempt to deflect from the real, internal failures that have plagued the nation for decades. While the legacy of colonialism undeniably left deep wounds and structural inequalities, attributing the current woes of land reform solely to this external boogeyman ignores the elephant in the room: systemic corruption and mismanagement within ZANU-PF itself.
The Fast Track Land Reform Programme, initiated with the stated aim of correcting historical injustices, had noble intentions on paper. However, its implementation quickly devolved into a chaotic, often violent, and deeply politicized exercise. Instead of genuinely empowering landless peasants, vast tracts of productive land were often allocated to political elites, party loyalists, and those with connections, many of whom lacked the agricultural expertise or capital to utilize the land effectively. This wasn’t the work of a shadowy ‘colonial master’; it was the direct consequence of patronage, cronyism, and outright graft within the ruling party.
Furthermore, the lack of secure tenure for beneficiaries, the destruction of existing infrastructure, and the inability to attract investment due to property rights uncertainties all contributed to a precipitous decline in agricultural output. These are not acts perpetrated by ghosts of the past; they are the tangible results of policies enacted and enforced by the very government now attempting to shift blame. The ‘colonial master’ didn’t sell off seized farms for personal gain, nor did they mismanage agricultural parastatals into oblivion. ZANU-PF’s own internal failings, its lust for power, and its entrenched corruption are the true saboteurs of a potentially transformative land reform.
It’s time for accountability. It’s time to stop playing the victim and instead acknowledge the role that internal corruption, poor governance, and a lack of genuine commitment to equitable development have played in undermining the very reforms meant to uplift the nation. Zimbabwe deserves an honest assessment of its history, not a convenient scapegoat. The future of the nation depends on confronting these truths, not perpetuating a false narrative.
Source: Original Article
