The Dendairy saga might have had its start in 1980 after the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement when Zimbabwe was ushered into the Land reform program, or what is popularly known as Hondo yeminda. Some citizens are saying its a serious undermining of what the Land reform program stood for. Maybe its really not that deep and associating the announcement on Sunday 7 June 2021 is just overthinking things on our part. But before we rule those idea off completely, here’s some things to consider.
Let’s begin with the aforementioned announcement of Sunday 7 June 2021. The Vice President Constantino Chiwenga expressed the governments intentions to evict over 1000 Chiredzi east and South Families from the 10000 hectares of land that they are currently inhabiting. This move is being made to make way for a Lucerne grass farming project by Dendairy which aims to increase their cattle feed. In simpler terms, over 1000 families, most of which were born and raised in these areas, have buried their loved ones in these areas, are now being asked to leave their heritage behind to make make room for cow food.
With that background, this would seem to have no relation to the Land reform program. How then are people relating the two events? Here’s whats being considered;
During the land reform era, Darren Coetzee, the owner of Dendairy, was already following his farming career. Interestingly, unlike most white farmers whose land was seized, Darren Coetzee was among that estimated 10% of white farmers that managed to retain his farm.This has been boiled down to the assumption that this farmer and businessman has friends in high places and therefore used those forces to evade land reform measures.
This idea was consolidated during a memorial service of Theresa Coetzee in January 2016 where President E.D Munangagwa was in attendance. Sources claim that during a speech at this memorial the president spoke of how he saved the family’s farm and businesses from invasions during the land reform time.
In essence, the Land reform program might not be directly linked to the new plans to evict over 1000 Chilongo families, however it might indicate something noteworthy. The force used by the Coetzee’s to guaranteed their stay on their farm while other white farmers were being evicted, could very well be the same force that will almost guarantee their acquisition of the 10000 hectares of Chilongo villager’s land. Should the Chilongo villagers be hopefully and delay packing their belongings? If power is indeed what the Coetzee family has to back them, then the track record thus far hints that the villagers need not keep holding onto that hope.
However, where there is no darkness without light. Some benefits have been pointed out. One of the major benefits that seems to be reiterated by pro-eviction citizens is that this move will lead to more employment thereby benefiting people. Well, if over 1000 families will be employed through this initiative, then, why not? But if indeed there seems to be no great benefit to the community, or if the benefits will primarily be felt by the company and other high officials who are said to hold shares in Dendairy, then perhaps the old adage was wrong and darkness can exist without light.
Vice President Chiwenga pointed out the following that some view as an advantage:
“Because of the Corona virus pandemic, we will never get back to our traditional arrangement of living. We are going to start a new living arrangement of living.”
Could this move really be helpful in ushering the villagers into what might be the new norm brought about by the corona virus? Will the government be able to relocate the villagers into a better living arrangement space that coincides with the times?
Let us know what you think of that below.
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