Ramaphosa’s Speech on Zimbabwe’s Land Reform
On August 29, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a speech where he lauded the controversial “land reform” policy in Zimbabwe. This policy has been linked to violence against white farmers, the expulsion of about one million black farm workers, and significant food shortages affecting millions.
During his address at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, Ramaphosa dismissed claims of “genocide” from white farmers in South Africa. His remarks were later shared on the official website of the South African President and were also posted on YouTube.
When Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, its new government faced the crucial task of changing colonial land ownership structures. Back then, most productive agricultural land was owned by white farmers, while black citizens were largely limited to communal lands, completely excluded from commercial farming.
This situation mirrors certain aspects of South Africa’s own history.
Thus, it became critical, for historical redress and the sake of food security and economic development, for the government to implement significant reforms aimed at integrating Black Zimbabweans into productive agriculture, which also included support for small farmers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxj0gwiy190
Ramaphosa’s attempt to address the deeply rooted racial injustices is striking, especially given the notorious history surrounding Zimbabwe’s land reform, which was enacted by President Robert Mugabe. After losing a constitutional vote, Mugabe fortified his political position and increased his enforcement capabilities.
He mobilized “war veterans,” many of whom were former guerrilla fighters involved in the liberation struggle against white minority rule.
Thousands of farms were confiscated, yet few were handed over to black farmers. Instead, many properties fell into the hands of Mugabe’s ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).
This land reform effort became a tool for political oppression, targeting trade unions and the media, often executed with brutality by ZANU-PF loyalists.
Many farms taken over by black farmers—primarily those who were former farm workers—eventually failed. Many white farmers left Zimbabwe, relocating to other African nations like Zambia and Nigeria.
As a result, the agricultural sector collapsed. Zimbabwe, once a food exporter, was compelled to start importing food, leading to an acute shortage of foreign currency.
The government’s response was to print more money, resulting in hyperinflation. The ensuing food scarcity affected around 7 million people in a country of about 12 million, while one million farm workers were displaced.
In recent years, the Zimbabwean authorities have acknowledged past mistakes. In a sign of attempting to mend relations, they began compensating white farmers for the losses incurred during the land seizures.
This so-called “essential” and “ambitious” reform that Ramaphosa celebrated raises concerns among many South Africans about a similar fate in their own country, despite his reassurances to the contrary.
