Zimbabwe’s Land Reform and Sanctions: Mnangagwa Defends Policies at World Governments Summit
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has defended his nation’s land reform policies and the subsequent international sanctions during a panel discussion at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. The discussion, which included US journalist Tucker Carlson, centered on the historical context of land redistribution, its economic consequences, and Zimbabwe’s ongoing challenges.
According to President Mnangagwa, the reclamation of land from colonists triggered decades of sanctions imposed by the British government. “Zimbabwe has been under sanctions for decades as a result of us claiming our lands from the British and making ourselves independent,” he stated. “We seized the land and gave it to our people, so sanctions were imposed on us. But in spite of all those constraints we have developed, and we are happy that we feel very independent.”
The land reform program, including the Fast-Track Land Reform Program, has been a focal point of international scrutiny. Carlson questioned Mnangagwa about the lessons learned from decades in government, specifically regarding the economic crisis faced by former President Robert Mugabe following the expulsion of white farmers.
Mnangagwa emphasized that land ownership is a national issue, not a racial one. “Land did not belong to the rest; it belonged to Zimbabweans. So when the colonialists took land from us, the time came when we asserted ourselves to take the land back,” he explained. He further clarified that those who wished to remain in Zimbabwe on the same basis as African citizens were welcome to do so, while those who felt superior chose to leave.
The history of land seizure in Zimbabwe dates back to the 2000s, when Robert Mugabe initiated the Fast-Track Land Reform Program. This program involved the seizure of approximately 4,000 commercial farms owned by white farmers, often carried out by state-backed militias using force and intimidation. The action led to a significant decline in Zimbabwe’s commercial agricultural output.
Following Mugabe’s removal from office in 2017, the Mnangagwa administration committed to compensating the affected farmers through a 2020 accord. However, the government has reportedly failed to meet the stipulated payment deadlines.
Recent developments include a United States lobbying group, with ties to Donald Trump, undertaking efforts to convince the US government to support Zimbabwe’s debt clearance process and establish new financial arrangements to facilitate compensation to the farmers.
During the discussion with Tucker Carlson, Mnangagwa addressed concerns about targeting people based on their race. When asked if there was a lesson about targeting people on the basis of their skin, Mnangagwa responded by reiterating that the land rightfully belonged to the Zimbabwean people and that the reclamation was a response to colonial dispossession.
The situation remains complex, with Zimbabwe continuing to navigate the economic and political consequences of its land reform policies and the associated international sanctions. The country’s future hinges on resolving these long-standing disputes and fostering sustainable economic development.
