Harare Correspondent
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has asserted that Britain should have compensated Zimbabwe prior to the country addressing compensation for white commercial farmers regarding improvements made to the land.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe National Elders Forum at State House, he highlighted recent apologies from former colonial powers, such as the UK’s acknowledgment of the Mau Mau in Kenya and Germany’s reparations to the Herero, Nama, and Mbanderu peoples of Namibia.
Mnangagwa questioned why the British, who originally seized land from Zimbabweans, have not offered similar reparations or apologies. He stated,
“We ask: when will the rest of us in former colonies receive similar apologies? We wonder.”
His comments reflect the complex history of land ownership in Zimbabwe and the ongoing grievances surrounding land reform.
Compensation for Former Landowners
As his government prepares to compensate former landowners for enhancements on their farms, Mnangagwa emphasized the need for justice for the people of Zimbabwe. He noted that while his administration is committed to compensating white farmers for improvements, it cannot overlook the historical injustices faced by Zimbabweans. He remarked,
“It is the colonial powers that should have compensated Zimbabwe first, allowing our country to use part of those reparations to compensate former white farmers for their improvements.”
The President’s remarks resonate with the sentiments of the Elders Forum, whose Chairman, Reverend Felix Mukonowengwe, echoed the call for compensation for those who were dispossessed of their fertile lands. He stated,
“The people who were removed from their fertile lands have not been compensated, and there has been no voice to say we are sorry.”
The Quest for National Healing
Mnangagwa’s statements highlight the complexities of Zimbabwe’s land reform process and the need for a deeper examination of the injustices that have shaped the country’s land landscape.
As the government moves forward with reparations to white farmers, the President’s call for accountability from former colonial powers underscores the ongoing struggle for national healing and justice for all Zimbabweans.
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