"Our fathers and grandfathers were born here…" Shangaan eviction experiences from the Gonarezhou National Park, 1957-1968

Baxter Tavuyanago

doi:10.17159/2309-8392/2017/v62n2a3

Abstract

"Our fathers and grandfathers were born here…" Shangaan eviction experiences from the Gonarezhou National Park, 1957-1968

Highlights

The Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) is a protected area located in the south-eastern corner of Zimbabwe.1 The park, the second largest in the country after Hwange National Park, covers a surface area of 5 053 km2 of open grasslands and dense woodlands.2 Located around the park are several communal areas: Matibi No 2, Ndowoyo, Sangwe and Sengwe
As background to the Gonarezhou eviction discourse and to situate the discussion in its correct historical context, it is necessary to point out that the Shangaan had developed symbiotic relations with the fauna and flora of their environment before their homeland was turned into a game reserve
This article focused on the resistance of the Shangaan indigenous communities of south-eastern Zimbabwe to eviction from the GNP

Summary

Introduction

The GNP is a protected area located in the south-eastern corner of Zimbabwe. The park, the second largest in the country after Hwange National Park, covers a surface area of 5 053 km of open grasslands and dense woodlands. Located around the park are several communal areas: Matibi No 2, Ndowoyo, Sangwe and Sengwe (shown on Map 1). Adaptation to the environment made them survivors in an area that was climatically hostile Their forced removal from the land of their ancestors put them at loggerheads with the colonial state as discussed in the case studies under review which are representative of the communities that were most affected by the massive evictions of the period from 1957 to 1968 and so put up the most noticeable resistance to the game park scheme. The research was enriched by information gathered from oral testimonies made by members of the Shangaan community of south-eastern Zimbabwe who lived through the trauma of evictions. These interviews were conducted between 2013 and 2015 when collecting data for my doctoral studies. The qualitative research method was employed to select, present and analyse the material gathered

Shangaan survival in the forest of Gonarezhou

The Chisa of Gotosa

The Ngwenyeni of Marhumbini

The Xilotlela of Vila Salazar

Conclusion