Nearly all Zimbabweans who benefited from Mr. Mugabe’s land reform policy lack titles, or legal ownership of their property — leaving them at the mercy of the politically powerful. Mr. Mnangagwa was indicating his support for the tentative steps taken by the Zimbabwean government in the past few years. It remains unclear whether Mr. Mnangagwa will follow through on his recent promises. As Mr. Mugabe’s longtime right-hand man, the new president is believed to have overseen the former leader’s often violent land policy. That is the system that has kept them in power until now.”In recent years, as fighting over succession intensified inside ZANU-PF, land was used to punish and to keep people in line.

Source: New York Times January 20, 2018 21:45 UTC