Im getting a split 50/50 view on the outcome of Zimbabwe's land reform. Whats your input on success and failure in Zimbabwe?
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Ah Zimbabwe. I'm not a Zim expert, but I know a fair amount about it and fortunately I happened to be brushing up on it last month. I think that it would be hard to consider "land reform" in isolation with Zimbabwe. The land reform there was part of a much larger political game which has been playing out for decades.
Zimbabwe was a strange case: a former colony that broke away from its coloniser while still under minority rule. That gave it an extra "step" in the process towards fair governance that most other former colonies didn't have. There is no question that Zimbabwe once worked well and was developing into a powerful force, the old "breadbasket of Africa". Of course that development was done on the backs of the poor without sharing the benefits with them, in typical colonial style.
After Mugabe took power the Jubilation soon wore off. The man was a most despicable tyrant, one who has committed the worst kinds of crimes against humanity. He is the typical mad dictator: one who ruled by fear. He would build forces by kidnapping young men and boys and forcing them into his armies. These youngsters then faced a period of indoctrination. It's easy to control an army when you offer them the perks that most of society don't have: things like food and cigarettes. Women were similarly kidnapped to "service" the soldiers, a most despicable state of affairs. Under Mugabe everything was corrupt, rigged, threatened and dying - expect for those closest to him and his army.
The land was certainly redistributed as the farmers fled in waves. Each time he needed popularity another wave of farmers would be threatened. Cars of soldiers would arrive at a farm, tell the family that they had to leave now and just take over. The farmers fled to nearby countries and the farms went to ruin under mismanagement and apathy. Zimbabwe can now hardly meet it's own food needs. It will take decades to fix what Mugabe and his ZANU PF have ruined.
So sure. Land reform took place, but at what cost? Fortunately I have heard that Zim is inviting some old farmers back to their farms. After the harrowing experience I'm not sure how many will return, but Zimbabwe certainly needs them if it is to rebuild and feed it's starving population.
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