Anyone who lived in Zimbabwe before the "land redistribution exercise" in 2000, as some call it, would confirm that agriculture has been the most viable of all industries in economic growth.
Farming was and is still one of the main source of economic growth for the nation. Prior to the "hondo yeminda" meaning struggle for the land, most rich red soil farms were owned by a minority. The majority were either in the unproductive sandy soil or not on any land at all.
Well, this is not the main point but that farming is essential to the basic growth of our economy in our time despite the emergency of the gem "diamond".
In 2000 the tide turned against the minority ownership of farms which then provided an opportunity for the majority to flood the red soil fields. This exercise came as a surprise to everyone and it was, in my view was a reaction to the "NO" vote to the constitutional referendum.
It was unpredictable so much that no farming could be carried out on most land. The majority who possessed the land had not enough machinery, skills and knowledge on how to effectively utilise the claimed land. Vandalism and destruction was the order of the day.
It was all out of desperation and lack of insight for most people. However those that managed to restrain their emotions and got on to the job found themselves moving on and making good progress though uncertainty still gripped and hampered some of them.
Since then, the land has not received justice with regards to effective utilisation.
There is need for a revival in the manner we will use the acclaimed land especially now with the signing of the new constitution. Land is basic to wealth and any nation that does not own land is still a colony. Land provides identity, ownership, destiny, and prosperity to any people.
Originality is fundamentally based on land, therefore every citizen with access to ownership of land should possess it and work on it.
We should now begin to see a revival of the land regeneration and effective, productive farming system in the new Zimbabwe.
Whatever redistribution exercise may be considered, should always be planned and organised based on principles of social justice and right of ownership for productivity.
