Land disputes spark tension in Namibia and Zimbabwe

Land disputes are causing tension in Namibia and Zimbabwe. In Namibia’s Zambezi region, a decades-old conflict involving the Jimu, Muninjahi, Ndivi, and Jojo families has escalated. The Masubia tribal court, unable to resolve the matter due to jurisdictional limits, held a meeting on 14 September 2026 with police presence to prevent aggression. Despite the intervention, reports indicate a subsequent altercation occurred on the disputed land, resulting in damage to cassava farms and crops.

In Zimbabwe, a family in Masvingo claims they are being pressured to vacate a residential plot they have occupied for 24 years. Nancy Rikitai Gwaendepi and her husband, Prichard Tafirenyika, allege that Chivi North MP Godfrey Mukungunugwa is linked to attempts to seize their land. Residents in the Clipsham area claim approximately 700 occupants face potential evictions to reallocate stands to government officials and political figures. While ZANU PF officials and Masvingo police have dismissed these allegations, the family reports instances of police harassment and detention.