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ABSTRACT
When the ZANU-PF-led government of Robert Mugabe implemented the fast-track land reform initiative in 2000, serious abuses of property rights and land tenure were committed. The media widely disseminated pictures of murdered commercial farmers and demolished infrastructure, portraying Zimbabwe as a dangerous place to conduct business. These developments appear to have been at the back of Mnangagwa’s mind when he promised to compensate white commercial farmers. The compensation provisions outlined in SI 62 of 2020 (Land Commission (Gazetted Land) (Disposal in Lieu of Compensation) Regulations, 2020) are under issue in this article. Anchored on corrective action, nation brand management, and framing theories, the article’s aim is to conduct a discourse analysis of SI and its representation in local and international media. This article makes the case that while SI’s goals are admirable, its execution is cumbersome. Farmers’ ability to renegotiate their property rights is limited by the SI. Mnangagwa’s initial intention to favourably reposition Zimbabwe as a stable economic centre is likely to be jeopardised by this legal bind. The article highlights the need for Zimbabwe to respect the rule of law and pay compensation for confiscated commercial land.
Biographical note
Washington Mushore is a senior lecturer at Midlands State University’s Department of Media, Communication, Film and Theatre Arts Studies. He received a DLitt et Phil in African Languages with a Special Bias in Media from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2012. He is a Research Fellow at the English Studies Department at the University of South Africa. He has published several papers and book chapters in respected, peer-reviewed journals including Imbizo: International Journal of African Literary and Comparative Studies, Journal of Commonwealth, Youth, and Development and Journal of African Cinemas. His most recent research interests include public relations, advertising, marketing, public relations, media and climate change, political communication, and media and health communication.
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Washington Mushore
Washington Mushore is a Senior Lecturer at Midlands State University’s Department of Media, Communication, Film and Theatre Arts Studies. He received a DLitt et Phil in African Languages with a special bias in Media from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2012. He is a Research Fellow at the English Studies Department at UNISA. He has published several articles and book chapters in respected, peer-reviewed journals including Imbizo: International Journal of African Literary and Comparative Studies, Journal of Commonwealth, Youth and Development and Journal of African Cinemas. His most recent research interests include public relations, advertising, marketing, media and climate change, political communication, media and human rights and media and health communication.