Fertile African lands colonisers stole from indigenous communities

Photo: New Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

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The lands in Zimbabwe were fertile for the growth of Sugar, cotton, coffee, tobacco and maize, five of the most sought-after products in the world and the British did everything in their power to take over their lands and establish successful plantations in the country. Aside from the fertile lands, the weather was very conducive for the rearing of cattle in large quantities.

By the 1900s the British owned more than half of the fertile land n Zimbabwe and had driven many of the indigenous people away. The British held on to the lands and gained more control despite conflicts with the indigenous people. Zimbabwe became a leading export in tobacco and cotton, thanks to the forced labour of indigenous Zimbabweans.

By 1977, British farmers owned 73.8 per cent of the fertile lands in Zimbabwe. Upon the country’s independence in 1980, many white settlers and farmers refused to leave their lands and farms but they were forced in 1992 to give up the land to the government for redistribution.

Zimbabwe continues to suffer from land disputes to date.