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Beneficiaries are actors too.pdf - Southern Institute of Peace ...

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the government embarks on a nationwide land audit to ensure the<br />

equitable distribution <strong>of</strong> land.<br />

Multiple farm ownership increases the rate <strong>of</strong> inefficiency and<br />

reduces production. It actually defeats the purpose <strong>of</strong> land reform<br />

since land is transferred from a white bourgeoisie class to a black<br />

bourgeoisie class that is not different from the white class in<br />

terms <strong>of</strong> multiple property ownership and the attendant<br />

exploitation <strong>of</strong> other classes. From the elitist inclinations <strong>of</strong> the<br />

current empowerment programme, those who benefited from the<br />

land reform programme will certainly benefit again from the<br />

former since they already have the capital or the connections to<br />

get into partnerships with foreigners in the various business<br />

ventures earmarked for indigenisation. The convergence <strong>of</strong> such<br />

streams <strong>of</strong> wealth on the same group <strong>of</strong> people creates a<br />

comprador class that is super wealthy and is more in tandem with<br />

the interests <strong>of</strong> Western capital than with social justice. The<br />

country could be heading into this unfortunate situation if<br />

corrective measures <strong>are</strong> not implemented in the current<br />

empowerment phase. The danger is however that the scenario<br />

might bring both political and economic instability in the form <strong>of</strong><br />

class conflicts, with the super wealthy bourgeoisie class using all<br />

its influence and power to protect its class interests. This class<br />

will almost <strong>of</strong>ten try to be in power or put its proxies in power to<br />

ensure the security <strong>of</strong> its wealth. However the poorer masses,<br />

both landless and unempowered in any form, might challenge the<br />

status quo in violent ways that can prove disastrous to both<br />

society and the economy (probably a fourth Chimurenga). The call<br />

for economic and social justice should hence start with a revisit <strong>of</strong><br />

the land reform programme and end by ensuring that even the<br />

lowest person benefits from the current economic indigenisation<br />

process.<br />

The governor <strong>of</strong> the Reserve Bank <strong>of</strong> Zimbabwe (RBZ), Gideon<br />

Gono has warned that:<br />

'This law must not be used to multiply pockets <strong>of</strong><br />

inefficiency in as far as utilisation <strong>of</strong> national resources<br />

and opportunities <strong>of</strong> the country is concerned…For<br />

134

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