Farm Feud Turns to Friendship on Zimbabwe Soil

Two farmers check paprika plants growing on Zimbabwe farmland during harvest season. Daniel Burger comes from a white farming family that has worked the area for many generations. Miriam Mupambawashe received her plot during land changes that happened during the 2000s. The government took farms from white owners and gave land to black citizens. Both farmers help each other grow crops and share equipment between their properties.

Zimbabwe changed land ownership rules after independence to spread farming opportunities more fairly. Officials seized about 4,000 farms from white families and gave them to black farmers. Some new landowners knew little about agriculture and many farms stopped producing food. The country faced hunger problems and needed help from other nations. Several farms were abandoned when people could not make them work properly.

Mupambawashe moved from Bulawayo city to start farming on her assigned land in recent years. She struggled at first but learned farming skills and made her small plot successful. Burger kept his family farm and rents land from Mupambawashe for growing crops. He brings tractors and farming knowledge to help her operation succeed. Both farmers want agriculture to recover from the difficult years after land reform.