THE CONVERSATION WE NEVER HAVE ABOUT LAND

 THE CONVERSATION WE NEVER HAVE ABOUT LAND…

This morning I stumbled upon a series of news broadcasts on the British SkyTV. It turns out today they are honouring their World War II heroes and the surrender of Japan on this day in 1945.

What ekes me is that we never discuss enough the Rhodesian Africans who perished in the two World Wars defending a Crown that oppressed them. The Rhodesian Native Regiment fought in World War I. Its successor the Rhodesian African Rifles fought in World War II. Many paid with their lives.   They are considered a footnote in history. They were treated as such by their colonial masters. 

During World War II, the Rhodesian African Rifles fought side by side with their white Rhodesian Army “colleagues” against the Japanese in Burma, Asia. They shed blood for a Crown that oppressed them. 

Upon their return to Southern Rhodesian at the end of the World War II, their white “colleagues” were rewarded with farms and government loans. The farms were in an unspoilt rich area in the Eastern Districts of Zimbabwe. The area was renamed “Burma Valley” as a reminder of their white heroism in Burma against the Japanese. It is known by that name to this day!

What happened to the Blacks? 

They were each given a bicycle! Yes! A bicycle! That is what was paid for their sacrifice. 

The pain of this insult did not escape one Chief. Chief Nyandoro, the uncle to the famous Zimbabwean nationalist George Nyandoro, attended the function held in their “honour” in Harare (‘Mbare’) Township, Salisbury in 1946. Chief Nyandoro spoke at the function and in the presence of the government officials he said:

“We are glad our sons have come back; we are glad because you tell us that they fought well. But we are sad because when our sons were fighting for you, you remained destocking our cattle and reducing our lands. Today our sons are being given bicycles while their white  counterparts who are demobilised get farms and government loans to help them settle down. We are sad.”

And as the late Chief Justice Dumbutshena records further in his 1975 autobiography, Zimbabwe Tragedy:

“I was present at that ceremony. I was thrilled. The officials were mute-mad with anger but the African soldiers’ radiant faces got the message. Chief Nyandoro was deposed for telling the truth.”

Yes, Chief Nyandoro was deposed by the Rhodesian government for stating facts!

So, as I listened to the geriatrics being lined up on British television this morning, I could not help thinking of Chief Nyandoro and our grandfathers and great grandfathers who paid or were prepared to pay the ultimate price for a Crown that oppressed them! All they got was more land and livestock dispossession and a bicycle. Their “white” colleagues got Burma Valley and money. 

It is tiring sometimes to try and debate the Land Question with people who refuse to see. These are Blacks and Whites, alike. 

Maybe, it is time to write THE CASE FOR THE NATIVES! 

© Tererai R. Mafukidze