In april 2009, a tribunal of the international centre for settlement of investment disputes icsid ordered the government of zimbabwe to compensate a group of dutch nationals whose farms were expropriated under zimbabwe s controversial land reform program. This chapter examines this affect, and forms the backdrop to the later investigation of zimbabwean, south african and british foreign policy. Indeed, these have been part of the reality but there have also been successes, which have thus far gone largely unrecorded. Under the command agriculture policy, black capitalist farmers have been. Why zimbabwe has failed to sate the yearning for land and to. Dec 06, 2014 land reform brings prosperity to black zimbabweans. The impact of land reform in zimbabwe on the conservation of cheetahs and other large carnivores thesis pdf available october 2011 with 7,798 reads how we measure reads. The domino effect of the present land reform policy has resulted in zimbabwe s gdp shrinking by 4. Much of the scholarship of zimbabwes land reform since 2000 has been deeply divided. Gender issues in land allocation and reform the primary goal of the land reform in zimbabwe has always been to create racial parity in access to land for settlement and farming. This article attempts to analyse zimbabwes post2000 land reform experience from a transformative social policy perspective, utilising empirical data obtained.
The story is not simply one of collapse and catastrophe. This paper assesses the potential consequences of a land reform scheme that draws on proposals. The need for land reform south africa suffered a long history of colonization, racial domination and land dispossession that resulted in the bulk of the agricultural land being owned by a white minority. It begins with the premise that land policy, especially the fast track land reform. The second phase of the land redistribution and resettlement programme in the form of the fast track land reform programme ftlrp, which started in 2000, has created an expanded number and array of small, medium and large scale farms, and effectively transferring ownership from the minority, white farmers to new indigenous farmers. Moyo1995 states that land reform has been undertaken in africa, in america, in asia, and in europe over the last seven decades. He has published widely and has contributed to many national, regional and international networks on land and agrarian reform issues. It is the human tragedy of the socalled land reform programme that is the most. Any land reform programme should therefore be reflective of the social, cultural and economic realities that impact upon the new landowners. President mugabe and his ruling party capitalized on the land issue to regain political support, which was fading due to hard economic conditions prevailing in the country.
A successful land reform model probably requires a combination of market and nonmarket reform. The development objective of the land reform support project for zimbabwe is to initiate on a pilot basis a couple of land reform approaches that show promise to reduce rural poverty and increase agricultural productivity in the participating farms. This study focused on the significance of land reform programme in zimbabwe. It often takes a generation for a land reform to produce results the larger of zimbabwe s two post apartheid land reforms is only a decade old, but new farmers have already caught up with the previous whitedominated system in production although of course, there are always better and worse farmers in any category. Zimbabwe land policy study 2 executive to undermine the independence of the judiciary and subvert the rule of law in order to remove obstacles to the implementation of the land reform programme. By nationalising most commercial farms, land could be acquired.
This website presents material linked to an ongoing research project in masvingo province in the southeast of the country. Background to the research 2 land reform in zimbabwe 3. Zimbabwe land reform support project english abstract. Most coverage of zimbabwes land reform insists that. Land reform policies are generally advocated as an effort to eradicate food. But conditions were put on the way that the money handed over could be used. Fast track land reform in zimbabwe written by claudia irigoyen africa infrastructure economics and finance the zimbabwean government began its land reforms in the 1980s to address the imbalances in land access ownership and use that had existed in the country before independence. Fast track land reform in zimbabwe centre for public. The government came up with new and revised land reform policy after 1990, passing the land acquisition act in 1992, which was supposed to speed up the land reform process through land designation and compulsory acquisition. The case of zimbabwes radical fast track land reform programme. Zimbabwe has announced plans to give back land controversially taken over under its controversial fast track land reform programme. Thousands lost their jobs and homes, food production nosedived, laws on property rights no longer seemed to apply and the economy spiralled out of control. Overturning the settler colonial pattern of land use and creating a new agrarian structure has had farreaching consequences. Published by friedrich ebert stiftung and institute of development studies, university of zimbabwe, harare, 2004.
May 03, 20 the issue of the over 4 500 farms seized without compensation is turning out to be a pertinent matter in zimbabwe s reengagement efforts with western countries after a 12year political standoff. The dutch claimants in the case, bernardus henricus funnekotter and others v. Zimbabwes land reform since 2000 has been intensely controversial. Land reform is a zimbabwe success story it will be the basis for economic recovery under mnangagwa november 29, 2017 9. Soon after the land reform was introduced in 2000, he applied and was allocated a farm. In sum, the realities on the ground did not match the myths so often perpetuated in wider debate. Images of chaos, destruction and violence have dominated the coverage. Print and ebook editions of this work are available to zed books. Government and donors within the current land policy debate are discussing two general models of land acquisition and resettlement. The government published its policy framework for the land reform and resettlement programme phase ii lrrp ii and gather financial support for it. The land policy that changes tenurial relations in favour of the actual tiller means that the cultivatorsmall farmer is assured of getting the fruits of their labour and equality of income and wealth. A critical analysis of the land reform programme in zimbabwe.
Land free fulltext bring back the landa call to refocus on. Land rights and land conflicts in africa carried out for the danish. In particular, it argues that wide presidential powers of appointment the power to hire and re virtually all top government o cials has its corollary in land policy. The lessons from zimbabwes land reform for its neighbors. The first phase land reform programme immediately after the attainment of independence in 1980, the new government launched the first phase of the resettlement programme in september. Kay 1997 postulates that in indonesia land reforms also known as agrarian reform, through that can have a broader meaning is an often controversial alteration in the societal arrangements whereby a government administers the ownership and use of land. This paper assesses the potential consequences of a land reform. Institute of development studies, university of sussex, brighton, uk the recon. This is followed by the section that presents the framework for understanding poverty alleviation in the resettlement areas. Fast track land reform programme which was kickstarted in the quest to redress the skewed land ownership patterns that characterised the colonial era. Overall impacts of fast track land reform programme. Framework and considered a prerequisite for economic growth guidelines on land policy in africa land policy in africa. File picture of white commercial farmers evicted from farms. South africa has just completed a land reform summit july 2005, and the process of land claims by black africans3 against white african commercial farmers has intensified.
Land reform has returned to prominence not just in zimbabwe but also in southern africa more generally. Much controversy and ambiguity has been associated with the term improved in zimbabwe s land reform debate. An adapted version of this paper appears in the edited collection post independence land reform in zimbabwe, published in may 2004 by the friedrich ebert stiftung in harare. His latest publication by zed books is biofuels, land grabbing and food. There is widespread agreement on the need for land reform in zimbabwe as a means of reducing poverty.
Simultaneously, the famous lancaster house constitution expires. I consider tenure, land use planning and development control, taxation, and direct public sector intervention in the land market. Arbitrary changes to the legislative framework have contributed to the high level of confusion that has been provoked by the fast track initiative. Political economy analysis of fast track land reform programme in zimbabwe arnold rangarirayi chamunogwa a minithesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts in governance and development at the institute of development studies, university of sussex. A quantitative analysis of zimbabwes land reform policy core. The social, political and economic transformative impact of the fast track land reform programme on the lives of women farmers in goromonzi and vungugweru districts of zimbabwe page 1 table of contents list of tables, figures and boxes ii introduction 1 1. Rural zimbabwe empties as mugabe land reform policy unravels bloomberg news, agrarian economy collapses. Land reform in zimbabwe officially began in 1980 with the signing of the lancaster house agreement, as an effort to more equitably distribute land between black subsistence farmers and white zimbabweans of european ancestry, who had traditionally enjoyed superior political and economic status. A framework for discussion papers part of the zimbabwe land series dale dor april 10th, 2012 abstract this article sets the tone and lays out a framework for the presentation of a series of discussion papers on land policy in zimbabwe. Introduction this report is an interim assessment by the united nations development programmeled mission to assess progress of land reform in zimbabwe requested by both the government of zimbabwe and a committee of commonwealth foreign. In an attempt to stimulate constructive national debate on this vital topic, we are pleased to publish this series on livelihoods after land reform, based on a. Land rights and tenure security in zimbabwes post fast track.
The fasttrack land reform and agrarian change in zimbabwe. Introduction according to the white paper on south african land policy the case for the governments land reform policy is fourfold. The zanupf leadership from the onset of the fasttrack land reform advanced the thesis that the land occupied by white commercial farmers was taken by force during the colonial era, and therefore, they were simply reclaiming it back. The way forward on the land issue is a challenge facing us all. The programme of land reform in terms of the twin objectives of growth and social justice may be said to have been formulated in the right direction. Because of the inherent political character of zimbabwes land reform. Land reforms are also considered essential as it provides social justice to millions of cultivators. Land reform is a zimbabwe success story it will be the. Once the change was voted in, fast tracking land reform for resettlement became policy. Political economy analysis of fast track land reform. From jambanja to planning institute of development studies. Jan 28, 20 in the biggest land reform in africa, 6,000 white farmers have been replaced by 245,000 zimbabwean farmers. This policy allowed government to acquire, for compensation, land that it deemed. World media demonised zimbabwe and the fasttrack land reforms which were initiated in 1999.
Postindependence land reform in zimbabwe controversies and impact on the economy edited by medicine masiiwa. A policy tool identified for this purpose was the land redistribution and resettlement programme. This is an issue which was present in zimbabwe during the early 2000s, when fears of genocide and ethnic cleansing were touted by local and international media outlets. A framework to strengthen land rights, enhance productivity and secure livelihoods african union african development bank economic commission for africa how can the land sector play its proper role. In this paper i evaluate urban land policy in zimbabwe.
Kinsey free university amsterdam, amsterdam, the netherlands university of zimbabwe, harare, zimbabwe summary. Zimbabwean politics is thus the result of land reform. A 1998 survey of farm workers in zimbabwe detailing their demographic, and skill, land access and viewpoints of land reform and redistribution is used to examine the very real constraints and the possibilities for poverty reduction among longstanding marginalized social groups in the ongoing fasttrack land resettlement in zimbabwe. The social, political and economic transformative impact of the fast track land reform programme on the lives of women farmers in goromonzi and vungugweru districts of zimbabwe by. Much of the scholarship of zimbabwe s land reform since 2000 has been deeply divided. Land reform in zimbabwe, 19801990 robin palmer introduction on 18 april 1990 zimbabwe celebrates the 10th anniversary of its independence. Land reform brings prosperity to black zimbabweans channel. Mnangagwa land reform reversal opens flood gates for south.
Land reform has spatially and temporally occurred throughout the world as a result of a need to change patterns of land ownership or land use king, 1977. Pdf an examination of the significance of land reform. Zimbabwe received financial assistance for land reform during the 1980s and 1990s from various governments. What has never changed in almost 30 years of implementing land reform has been the political setup and governance systems providing policy direction to the programme. In essence land tenure systems are not simply products of planning institutions. In 2000, however, a fasttrack land reform programme ftlrp was initiated, resulting in the resettlement of most commercial land. Land reform is probably one of the most difficult domestic policy issues to be dealt with by zimbabwe, namibia, south africa and australia. Land corruption, gender and rural land governance in zimbabwe. This chapter focuses mainly on the years before the mid 1980s and the years after the early 1990s. The nexus between the fast track land reform programme and. Land reform may consist of a governmentinitiated or governmentbacked property.
But 245,000 new farmers have received land, and most of them are farming it. Thus, mashonaland east province was selected as a case study because historically this province suffered a lot in the first and second chimurenga wars. South africa, having a better political and policy framework should be heading towards a positive future of land distribution and agriculture. An evaluation of the impact of the zimbabwe land reform. In each of these countries the process of land reform is incomplete. Land reform is probably one of the most difficult domestic policy issues to bedealt with by zimbabwe, namibia, south africa and australia. Evaluate the failures and or successes of land tenure reform in zimbabwe. The agenda of this project was to i generate knowledge that can be used for policy engagement as. The land reform in zimbabwe was organised in line with that slogan and had the following basic elements of speed, which made it to be known as the fast track land reform. During the past decade, zimbabwe has undergone a tumultuous process of land redistribution. Analysis and views on land reform and the land question in namibia and southern africa, 64 j hunter ed, 2004 viii harold green, south africa and zimbabwe.
Feb 28, 2017 rural zimbabwe empties as mugabe land reform policy unravels bloomberg news. In zimbabwes current crisis, it is easy to overlook the fact that the country had a. Dec 12, 2016 why zimbabwe has failed to sate the yearning for land and to fix rural hunger. Zimbabwe land reform support project english the world bank. Pdf land, agrarian reform in zimbabwe viewed from a. Prior to 2000 zimbabwe was hailed as a conservation success story, with large areas of commercial private land outside of national parks being used to support wildlife. Since the land reform programme in 2000, tourism in zimbabwe has steadily declined. Its aim was to conflate the taking of the land to an imagined agenda of white genocide. The targets of the first phase of the land reform and resettlement program were landless families, the. The zimbabwean government will then at last be able to tackle the contentious and highly politicised land. Session one on the current position friedrich ebert foundation. Technocracy in land reform in southeastern zimbabwe.
The disparities in the composition of the beneficiaries of various land reform programs is a result of policymakers. Nov 29, 2017 land reform is a zimbabwe success story it will be the basis for economic recovery under mnangagwa november 29, 2017 9. Phides mazhawidza and jeanette manjengwa for the women farmers land and agriculture trust and centre for applied social sciences, university of zimbabwe march 2011. It discusses the impact of major policy shifts from the marketbased willing seller willing buyer principle to the fast track land reform programme on zimbabwes food security. A discussion on the outcomes of land reform from a poverty reduction perspective and. Zimbabwe, on one side of the spectrum, is facing a crisis in democratisation due to its radical approach to land reform. Disparity between policy design and implementation medicine masiiwa institute of development studies university of zimbabwe may 2004 note. Zimbabwes fast track land reform program ftlrp formally began with. Rarely are the relationships between them, their implementation, and their overall impact considered systematically, especially for developing countries. Framework and considered a prerequisite for economic. The basic defect of the indian land reform policy has been the low pace at which the whole programme moved. Zimbabwes land reform has not been neat, and huge problems remain. Speeding up the identification for compulsory acquisition of not less than. Rural zimbabwe empties as mugabe land reform policy unravels.
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