By Princess of Harare, Princess Eugene Majuru.
Harare, Zimbabwe (News of The South) The vision and gain of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle which began as far back as the 1890’s when the British invaded Zimbabwe and murdered thousands and grabbed their land has shifted to another dimension as black Zimbabweans are now losing their land and title deeds back to white monopoly through leadership restore legacy not for blacks but for whites.
The land issue in Zimbabwe has been on the World news headlines for so many years since former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe took back the land from white farmers who enriched themselves while enslaving Zimbabweans on their own land. This did not go down well with many people from different countries who called Mugabe a tyrant and murderer.
It can never be right for blacks to be tormented back to Rhodesian times. This is not right. The former white farmers have no shame in being part of this deal.
Liberation Struggle was about sharing of land and resources amongst Zimbabweans. As a matter of urgency this land crisis has to be resolved. Agenda of land reform was to give land to the people, to the blacks. Zimbabwean government has reversed the land reform programme.
According to the document “The Global Compensation deed ” signed on July 29, 2020 the deal is said to represent a major milestone in the restoration of trust and co – operation between the former white farmers and the Zimbabwean government.
The document states that agriculture is Zimbabwe’s top priority to increase food production through collaborative efforts of all Zimbabweans.
The document explains that compensation wll be done case by case. Former white farmers can apply to the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture for land, for restoration or title deeds for land that was compulsorily acquired from them for resettlement. Government will grant their applications where circumstances obtaining on the ground permit the restoration of land to them.
Government will revoke offer letters of farmers who are currentky occupying the land and will offer them alternative land. It will also be interesting to aee if Zimbabwe will compensate black Zimbabwean farmers for the land improvements they made on the land just the same way they are compensating the white farmers with $3.5 billion.
The document explains that where it is not possible to offer a former white farner the land they previously acquired the government will offer compensation instead.
Before Independence The British seized fertile land from the blacks and moved them to infertile land where they lived in poverty and had poor yields.
My late great grandfather, King Mbari of the Shumba gurundoro Mbari clan was King of Harare and part of Mazoe and Mount Hampden, he lost all his territory when the British took over they made Harare the capital city of Salisbury and Mazoe was made the farming capital of Zimbabwe due to the fertile soil. My clan the Mbari clan were brutally murdered and dynamited while hiding in caves and many fled to neighbouring Land under various Chiefs. My clan members are still living in destitution till today because the Zimbabwean government has not resuscitated the Harare Mbari Chieftainship. Till today the Mbari clan have not received any compensation from the British nor Zimbabwean government for the loss of life, land, resources, cattle and heritage yet priority is being given to white farmers.
Many Zimbabwean famers who benefitted from the kand reform programme will agaim get displaced and be reminded of the ills of colonialism especially during this prriod of hardhips where there are no jobs and the economy is performing very badly. This is set to create more problems for Zimbabweans while priority os being given to whites just the same way it happened in the period from 1896. We will not see white labourers or farm workers but it will once again to black Zimbabweans who will once again be ill treated by the white farmers and will provide cheap labour.
Outstanding spiritual, cultural issues most of which were caused by the same former white farmers and their ancestors have not been attended to or resolved yet short cuts are being made to please former white farmers and foreign governments who have insatiable interest in Zimbabwe and want to continue looting are being given preference. Remains of First Chimurenga war heroes Sekuru Kaguvi, Mbuya Nehanda et al are still in the hands of the British yet Zimbabwe treats the issue with less importance. If Zimbabwe was serious by now the remains would have been repatriated back to Zimbabwe. For Zimbabwe to move forward there needs to be healing, helaing from the ills of colonialism, healing from the mistakes done by President Mnangagwa to the Zi.ba qean people since the take over from former President Mugabe, there needs to be unity and love in Zimbabwe. So far we don’t see any lovewe see a lot of greed and selfishness. Zimbabwe is a spiritual country and the spirituity of Zi.ba qe and uts people comes first before anyone else, before the whites and before money.
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