The Conflict

In 2000 in Zimbabwe, black Africans began occupying the farms of the white minority (who owned most of the land), terrorizing the families living there and threatening to take the land for black Africans. The occupying forces were encouraged by Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe.

Political

• The white minority owns much of the land in Zimbabwe, a remnant of the colonial times.
• Some of the land was to have been redistributed—with reparations to the current owners—following independence. But little land was redistributed to the masses of people (most went to the army and supporters of the president).
• Mugabe is encouraging the activities and threatening wider redistribution—with no reparations—in order to secure electoral support.
• The United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa have offered to contribute to reparations funds in...