Decide Mabumbo

Last update: 8 August 2012

Title: Land reform and land grabbing: a study of potential challenges for resettled farmers in Mwenezi District, Zimbabwe.

Summary

Land is central to livelihoods, especially for people living in Zimbabwe’s rural areas. In 2000, the Zimbabwean Government embarked on a massive land reform programme. The exercise was meant to address land ownership imbalances that were created by the British colonial system starting from 1890. Despite allocation of land to poor, landless peasants, a new form of land grabbing is taking place ,a process led by a large business and supported by Zimbabwe’s political elite. This thesis investigated the impacts of land grabbing in Zimbabwe’s South East Lowveld (SEL) on resettled people’s investment plans and confidence.

People’s attitudes towards management of natural resources in the resettled areas were investigated. Socio-economic characteristics of the new settlers, their livelihood, assets and investments on the new farms, tenure arrangements and resources were also assessed. Using participatory rural appraisal techniques, 60 household questionnaires, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were used to collect the information. The study findings challenges the myth of unproductive land uses and low investments with the household survey data showing that resettled people in Mwenezi are mostly local, poor households who have invested in their land and derive substantial livelihood benefits. The study also noted that the farm invasions which took place during the 2000s may have dismantled a system of private property rights, but in the absence of political and legal momentum behind granting tenure rights to land occupiers ,this has rendered the ‘new plot holders’ vulnerable to second wave elite and state sponsored land grabs. The study also noted that the land grab in Mwenezi and new displacement threats are impacting negatively on the resettled farmers. Investments on the plots are beginning to decline; there is disregard for natural resources, low confidence and heightened anxiety among the resettled farmers who face an uncertain future.

The study recommends the need to ensure proper communication and engagement with local communities and farmers in ways that are sensitive to their livelihoods. The study also recommends increased investments in agriculture in rural Africa and ways to foster sustainable private sector investments that promote mutually beneficial partnerships between smallholder farmers and private investors such as contract farming. The Government has a responsibility of protecting its people from large-scale land acquisitions by putting in place pro poor policies and developing transparent, accountable and accessible land administration institutions.

Last update: 8 August 2012