South Africa

In the news today white farmers in South Africa are leaving the country because of land reforms which include restitution and redistribution. Land was unfairly given to white settlers during the colonial times and the government is trying to make up for this past discrimination. White farmers are leaving. This is a repeat of what happened in Zimbabwe and lessons could be learned from past mistakes. Zimbabwe is an African country colonized by the British. In the 1930’s 50% of the farm land was given to 50,000 white farmers who developed high producing farms. These farms supplied the one million inhabitants with food. In 1980 the country gained independence and in 2000, under the leadership of Robert Mugabe, the country instituted land reform meaning they moved out the white farmers and replaced them with local Blacks. The result was a 64% decline in production and starvation for the people. Zimbabwe has experienced a severe economic decline since 2000. During 2003, the largest poverty rate was recorded in urban areas, with a massive 65% increased since 1995 and a 45% increase in rural areas. With poverty rates being at the highest it as ever been, in 2008, life expectancy within the nation reached an all-time low of 37 years old, as opposed to age 61 at independence in 1990 In retrospect, it would have been wiser to move the white farmers out over an extended period of time, allowing the new owners to learn how to farm. The white farmers could have been given an incentive to teach the new comers while being properly compensated for their land.