Politicization of land reform in Zimbabwe: impacts on wildlife, food production and the economy

Abstract

Land reform is a major Southern Africa issue. Land reform, to rectify its inequitable distribution between white and black Zimbabweans, became radicalized by President Robert Mugabe and his political party ZANU‐PF as a means to stay in power. This has had adverse impacts on food production, conservation, use of wildlife, and both national and regional economies. Ill‐considered internal and regional policies that result in economic ruin and uncontrollable immigration by the poor, hopeless disenfranchised masses could end any hope for an African Renaissance. This would harm South Africa, and prevent it from providing the benefits of development to Africa’s people.