By Farai Muroiwa Marapira 

Tomorrow Zimbabwe celebrates its independence, a significant day in the history of Zimbabwe. It is essential to reflect on and appreciate the importance of this priceless gift given to us by our heroes and heroines. Our history is incomplete without a perusal of the laws that were enacted by the settler regime to subjugate and divorce our forebears from the Rhodesian economy.

The economic marginalization of Africans began with the creation of reserves, established by the 1898 Order-in-Council and further entrenched in 1920. These reserves were mostly arid and infertile lands where Africans were forcibly relocated after being dispossessed of their own land. With no means of production, approximately 60% of Africans were confined to reserves by 1920 and compelled to work for meager wages in farms and mines.

To coerce more Africans to work for the white settlers, various tax regimes were introduced, including hut, dog, cattle, and dip taxes, payable only in cash. Once Africans were forced to work on farms and mines under deplorable conditions and for paltry wages, they were not allowed to leave their work without the consent of their masters. The Master and Servant Act was enacted to enforce this oppressive system.

The colonial settlers implemented brutal policies to further segregate and marginalize Africans. Acts such as the Land Bank Act of 1912, European Produce Act of 1920, Maize Control Act of 1934, and Cattle Levy Act of 1934 were passed to deprive Africans of production support, manipulate agricultural produce prices in favor of white farmers, and shield them from competition with African farmers.

The most draconian of these policies was the Land Apportionment Act of 1930, which solidified land segregation by dividing it into White Areas, Native Areas, Native Purchase Areas, and Forest Areas. This act restricted access to quality land, leading to overcrowding of Africans in native reserves, limited resources, and widespread poverty.

However, the desire of Africans to own land could not be suppressed. As a result, the Land Husbandry Act of 1951 was introduced to frustrate Africans by replacing communal land ownership with private ownership, which clashed with traditional beliefs and further strained relations between Europeans and natives, ultimately paving the way for the Second Chimurenga.

For those born in a free Zimbabwe, it may be difficult to comprehend the effects of these policies. But it took brave men and women to sacrifice their lives in order to emancipate us from these oppressive practices. On Independence Day, we acknowledge their supreme sacrifices, and no amount of compensation can ever equal their immense contributions to our beloved country, Zimbabwe.

It is because of these gallant sons and daughters who laid down their lives for a free Zimbabwe and resisted the exploitative racist regimes of the colonial settlers that we find ourselves liberated today.

The Second Republic continues to make strides in advancing the realization of total freedom for all. It is fully committed to propelling national development, with the aim of creating a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society for all Zimbabweans by 2030.Tommorrow Zimbabwe celebrates its independence, a significant day in the history of Zimbabwe. It is essential to reflect on and appreciate the importance of this priceless gift given to us by our heroes and heroines. Our history is incomplete without a perusal of the laws that were enacted by the settler regime to subjugate and divorce our forebears from the Rhodesian economy.

The economic marginalization of Africans began with the creation of reserves, established by the 1898 Order-in-Council and further entrenched in 1920. These reserves were mostly arid and infertile lands where Africans were forcibly relocated after being dispossessed of their own land. With no means of production, approximately 60% of Africans were confined to reserves by 1920 and compelled to work for meager wages in farms and mines.

To coerce more Africans to work for the white settlers, various tax regimes were introduced, including hut, dog, cattle, and dip taxes, payable only in cash. Once Africans were forced to work on farms and mines under deplorable conditions and for paltry wages, they were not allowed to leave their work without the consent of their masters. The Master and Servant Act was enacted to enforce this oppressive system.

The colonial settlers implemented brutal policies to further segregate and marginalize Africans. Acts such as the Land Bank Act of 1912, European Produce Act of 1920, Maize Control Act of 1934, and Cattle Levy Act of 1934 were passed to deprive Africans of production support, manipulate agricultural produce prices in favor of white farmers, and shield them from competition with African farmers.

The most draconian of these policies was the Land Apportionment Act of 1930, which solidified land segregation by dividing it into White Areas, Native Areas, Native Purchase Areas, and Forest Areas. This act restricted access to quality land, leading to overcrowding of Africans in native reserves, limited resources, and widespread poverty.

However, the desire of Africans to own land could not be suppressed. As a result, the Land Husbandry Act of 1951 was introduced to frustrate Africans by replacing communal land ownership with private ownership, which clashed with traditional beliefs and further strained relations between Europeans and natives, ultimately paving the way for the Second Chimurenga.

For those born in a free Zimbabwe, it may be difficult to comprehend the effects of these policies. But it took brave men and women to sacrifice their lives in order to emancipate us from these oppressive practices. On Independence Day, we acknowledge their supreme sacrifices, and no amount of compensation can ever equal their immense contributions to our beloved country, Zimbabwe.

It is because of these gallant sons and daughters who laid down their lives for a free Zimbabwe and resisted the exploitative racist regimes of the colonial settlers that we find ourselves liberated today.

The Second Republic continues to make strides in advancing the realization of total freedom for all. It is fully committed to propelling national development, with the aim of creating a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society for all Zimbabweans by 2030.