African Responses to Zimbabwe's Land Crisis

How Land Reforms Created Friends and Enemies for Robert Mugabe

Jun 24, 2009

Mugabe's land reforms have helped to create friends and enemies for him within Africa. This alliance system is manifested at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

Two major factors determined African responses to the land crisis in Zimbabwe. The first was the history of land dispossession under colonial rule. Because of this, the entire continent supported President Robert Mugabe’s land reforms especially at the initial stage. The second factor was Mugabe’s resort to radicalism which significantly cracked his support base within Africa. Considered either or both ways, African responses to Zimbabwe’s crisis have been expressed at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

Bilateral Support for Mugabe’s Land Reforms

For various reasons, South Africa was among the leading African states to show open support for Mugabe. The first reason was South Africa’s position as a regional and continental power. Secondly, as an immediate neighbor, South Africa directly felt the ripple effects of Zimbabwe’s crisis especially given the trade relations between both countries. Thirdly, both countries share a common history of bitter racial division (apartheid) and white minority rule inspired by land alienation.

Based on these considerations, former South African President Thabo Mbeki adopted a “silent diplomacy” towards Mugabe. As an alternative to western calls for firm action against Mugabe, he preferred “constructive engagement.” “We are committed to working together to find solutions” he said, “We have to move forward vigorously.” Mbeki stubbornly stuck to his “silent diplomacy” which ended up costing him his diplomatic reputation and partly contributed to his fall from power.

Like South Africa, a large number of African countries rallied behind Mugabe as proof of their support for land reforms throughout Africa. Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba expressed concern and admiration for Mugabe when he visited Zimbabwe in August 2005. Other African countries like Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, Algeria and Uganda all showed open support for Mugabe especially because they shared a common history of land dispossession under colonial rule.

Multilateral Support for Mugabe’s Reforms

One of the regional blocs that has hardly ever wavered in its support for Mugabe’s reforms is the South African Development Community (SADC).When western pressure started mounting on Mugabe in 2000, the 14-nation SADC group came out in open support of the Zimbabwean leader. “… we are disappointed by the partisan and biased manner in which a sector of the international media has misrepresented the land policy of the government of Zimbabwe” a SADC statement read. Much to the chagrin of the West, SADC has consistently opposed western sanctions on Zimbabwe, insisting that dialogue remains the best option.

At the continental level, the African Union (AU) inherited the Zimbabwe problem from the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The AU initially maintained a position of silence, considering the crisis as an internal affair of a member country. Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the AU, deliberately refrained from condemning Mugabe in public. He instead preferred to offer his “good office” to resolve the crisis.

However, faced with western pressure, the AU was forced to depart from its traditional position of silence. President Obasanjo appointed his Mozambican counterpart – Joachim Chissano to broker talks between Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). These talks like many others failed as Mugabe reminded “those who should know better” to stop asking him to meet his opponents. Not even the UN or Commonwealth could succeed in bringing Mugabe to reason.

Mugabe’s Opponents in Africa

The popularity which Mugabe enjoyed throughout Africa started dwindling as his reforms became very radical. Many dissenting voices started calling for his departure. President Festus Mogae of Botswana for example, described Zimbabwe as suffering from what he called “a drought of good governance.” After President Mogae’s comments in 2002, Zimbabwe recalled its ambassador to Botswana. Relations between both countries have been far from good since then.

Another dissenting voice against Mugabe’s excesses was found in Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga. Based on his own difficult experience with Mugabe-like Moi Kibaki, Mr. Odinga has openly called for the forceful removal of Mugabe. Odinga’s call added to earlier ones made by Anglican Arcbishop Desmond Tutu for the use of force to overthrow Mugabe to spare many innocent lives in Zimbabwe.

Among these dissenting voices, however, the one that struck the greatest impact was that of Nelson Mandela. The former South African President described Mugabe as “a tragic failure of leadership in Africa.” This statement by Mugabe’s one-time brother in arms added value and weight to western calls for the ouster of Mugabe. It also revealed the depth of opposition to Mugabe's reforms within Africa.

Making Gains out of Zimbabwe’s Chaos

While Mugabe continued to gain and lose sympathy in Africa, some African governments were busy making gains out of Zimbabwe’s misery. Nigeria, Sudan and the Central African Republic were among the many African states that enlisted the services of displaced white farmers from Zimbabwe.

Nigeria’s Kwara state for example, experienced an agricultural revolution thanks to the expertise of these farmers. A report based on this success story read as follows. “The Nigerian project has opened many doors and will continue to open more doors in other surrounding countries with private companies and government departments approaching us wanting to put together similar projects.”

Fowale, Tongkeh Joseph. “The Politics of Land Reforms in Zimbabwe 1980-2005: International Responses.” 2006.

The copyright of the article African Responses to Zimbabwe's Land Crisis in Modern African History is owned by Tongkeh Joseph Fowale. Permission to republish African Responses to Zimbabwe's Land Crisis in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.