Page 27 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 26
P. 27
Community
Long held captive by the discussing land expropriation ambiguous and self-serving
government, ordinary folks without compensation and motives hidden under the
have also been threatened by reclaiming land from White pretext of development
land that is being dangled to people, ostensibly in an and investment, random
dissuade them from thinking attempt to win support, years evictions have encountered
otherwise. Any attempt after independence. Given resistance in some parts
to advocate for complete such a situation, it should of Africa that eventually
land ownership by fellow be concluded that talk about erupted into civil war. In
Africans is considered land is just politics—a ploy most cases, opinion leaders
anarchism and an effort to gain political mileage— and traditional leaders are
to cause pandemonium. with no real intention of bought off to overlook these
Without a doubt, in my fully empowering citizens. selfish efforts.
perspective, having A reflection on the African land is not for sale
land defines an African opposition parties that have neither does it belong to an
completely therefore, land been fortunate enough to individual but to all black
should not be politicized. sniff power, reveals that people.
nothing has changed in terms
Land, a trump card of fair land distribution,
for African opposition but rather land is a vehicle
politicians ascendancy to of politicians to political
power. realms.
Since land is the primary Land and societal conflict
focus of African politics, Land ownership is the main
opposition parties cause of social turmoil and
frequently take advantage civil war in the African bloc.
of the discontent among Removing individuals from
the populace regarding the their ancestral lands without Zinyanga Learnmore is a
distribution and allocation a suitable strategy and Zimbabwean Freelance Journalist
of land. People are promised plans for their resettlement and educationist. He is interested in
highlighting stories around African
during elections an equitable has left common people Politics and Arts and Culture.
distribution of land, title wallowing in abject poverty
deeds, and non-partisan land and exposed to inhumane
distribution, all of which the living conditions, including
ruling revolutionary parties diseases brought on by poor
may have purposefully sanitary conditions during
disregarded to maintain the eviction process, sexual
their hold on power. Some harassment, and abuse of
opposition groups are still women and children. Due to
ISSUE 26 | APRIL 2024 27
