Cutting Edge of Progress, The

Synopsis: Construction of the Kariba Dam flooded the whole of the Zambezi Valley including areas in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The populations of both the north and south banks were forced to resettle; according to some accounts more attention was paid to animals than to people. On both sides of the river, the Tonga were the losers. They received no compensation for the destruction of their homelands and they faced an arduous journaey, usually in the back of open trucks, to be resettled far away from their home areas. Once there they had to rebuild their lives from scratch, clearing the bush and building huts. The people from the north and south banks were completely cut off from each other and many also lost highly productive alluvial fields on the edge of the Zambesi and had to take to dryland farming in the rugged foothills of the escarpment. The film chronicles the experiences of some of the people who settled in the Omay area and what happened to them and their culture following their move.
Series: Third World Development, Course U208
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 24 min.
Year of production: 1993
Availability: Sale; 1998 sale: £145.00 (+VAT +p&p)
Subjects: Anthropology; Development studies
Keywords: Africa; dams; developing countries; migration - human; Zambezi River

Producer

Eleanor Morris

Cast

Juliet Stevenson

Name: Open University Worldwide
Web: http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window
Phone: +44 (0) 1908 274066
Address: Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
Notes: NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk

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British Universities Film & Video Council