The government must not dictate’: rural‐urban migrants’ perceptions of Zimbabwe&apos;s land resettlement programme

Potts, Deborah; Mutambirwa, Chris

doi:10.1080/03056249708704281

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Review of African Political Economy

Volume 24, Issue 74

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The government must not dictate’: rural‐urban migrants’ perceptions of Zimbabwe's land resettlement programme

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Author(s): Deborah Potts ^a , Chris Mutambirwa ^b

Publication date (Print): December 1997

Journal: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

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Abstract

Since its inception in 1980 Zimbabwe's land resettlement programme has been marked by very varied performance and keen debate. There have been high hopes, deep disappointment, false starts (and stops), policy swings and controversy. In the 1990s analyses of the programme by both supporters and critics of land reform have generally been negative. Yet there is evidence that resettled people themselves have made real welfare and income gains. Strong support for the programme was also expressed by a large sample of rural‐urban migrants in Harare in 1994. Their views, reported in this article, showed an appreciation of most aspects of the academic and policy debates, but clearly also tended towards the perception that redistribution of land in Zimbabwe is a moral issue. Government insistence on commercially‐oriented production on resettlement schemes was perceived as unwarranted interference.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): crea20

Journal ID (archive): CREA

Title: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

ISSN (Print): 0305-6244

ISSN (Electronic): 1740-1720

Publication date (Print): December 1997

Volume: 24

Issue: 74

Pages: 549-566

Affiliations

^a Department of Geography, School of Geography, School of Oriental and African Studies , University of London

^b Department of Geography , University of Zimbabwe

Article

Publisher ID: 8704281 Coden ID: Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 24, No. 74, December 1997, pp. 549-566

DOI: 10.1080/03056249708704281

SO-VID: f4cbfb9c-f743-483e-938b-77a083e1241d

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

History

Page count

Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 37, Pages: 18

Bibliography

Alexander J. . 1993. . ‘State, Peasantry and Resettlement in Zimbabwe’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 61:: 325––45. .
Berry B B. . 1991. . “‘The impact of agricultural resettlement in Zimbabwe: the Soti Source Model A intensive resettlement scheme’. ”. University of Wit‐watersrand. .
Biot Y, Lambert R and Perkins S. . 1992. . “‘What's the problem? An essay on land degradation, science and development in sub‐Saharan Africa’. ”. Norwich : : School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia. .
Bratton M. . 1987. . ‘The comrades and the countryside: the politics of agricultural policy in Zimbabwe’. . World Politics . , Vol. 398((2)): 174––202. .
Cliffe L. . 1988. . ‘Zimbabwe's agricultural “success” and food security in Southern Africa’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 43:: 4––25. .
Cousins B. , ed. 1989. . “‘People, land and livestock: proceedings of a workshop on the socio‐economic dimensions of livestock production in the communal lands of Zimbabwe’. ”. Harare : : Centre of Applied Social Science, University of Zimbabwe. .
Cusworth J and Walker J. . 1988. . “‘Land Resettlement in Zimbabwe: a preliminary evaluation’. ”. London : : ODA. .
Davies D. . 1990. . ‘Zimbabwe's experience in rural development’. . Development Southern Africa . , Vol. 7:: 166––82. .
Drinkwater M. . 1991. . The state and agrarian change in Zimbabwe;'s communal areas . , London : : Macmillan. .
J Elliott ( 1989 ) ‘Soil erosion and conservation in Zimbabawe: political economy and environment’ , unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Loughborough
1995. . ‘Processes of interaction across resettlement/communal are boundaries in Zimbabwe’. . Geographical Journal of Zim‐babwe . , Vol. 26:: 1––16. .
Jacobs S. . 1991. . “‘Changing gender relations in Zimbabwe: the case of individual family resettlement areas’. ”. In Male Bias in the Development Process . , Edited by: Elson D. . Manchester : : Manchester University Press. .
Kinsey B H. . 1982. . ‘Forever gained: resettlement and land policy in the context of national development in Zimbabwe’. . Africa . , Vol. 52((3)): 92––113. .
1983. . ‘Emerging policy issues in Zimbabwe's land resettlement programme’. . Development Policy Review . , Vol. 1((2)): 63––96. .
1984. . ‘Resettlement: the settlers’ view’. . Social Change and Development . , Vol. 7:
Macgregor J. . 1991. . “‘Woodland resources, ecology, policy and ideology: an historical case study of woodland use in Shurugwi communal area’. ”. Zimbabwe: : University of Loughborough. .
Moyo S. . 1995. . The land question in Zimbabwe . , Harare : : SAPES. .
1994. . Economic nationalism and land reform in Zimbabwe . , Harare : : SAPES. .
R Palmer ( 1996 ), ‘The threat to people's land in Southern Africa: the current crisis’ , unpublished paper for circulation among NGOs
1977. . Land and Racial Domination in Rhodesia . , Berkeley : : University of California Press. .
1990. . ‘Land reform in Zimbabwe: 1980–90’. . African Affairs . , Vol. 89((355)): 163––81. .
Palmer R and Birch I. . 1992. . Zimbabwe: a Land Divided . , Oxford : : Oxfam. .
Potts D and Mutambirwa C C. . 1990. . ‘Rural‐Urban Linkages in Contemporary Harare: Why Migrants Need Their Land’. . Journal of Southern African Studies . , Vol. 16((4)): 676––98. .
Potts D and Mutambirwa C C. . 1991. . ‘Low‐Income Housing in Harare: Overcrowding and Commodific‐ation’. . Third World Planning Review . , Vol. 13((1)): 1––26. .
Potts D. . 1996. . ‘Zimbabwean migrants must keep their land: support for the Land Tenure Commissioner's Report’. . Zimbabwe Review . , September;
Scoones I. . 1990. . “‘Livestock populations and household economics: a case study from southern Zimbabwe’. ”. Imperial College, University of London. .
Sibanda C. . 1981. . The Tribal Trust Lands of Rhodesia ‐ Problems of Development . , (Centre for Development Studies Monograph Series no. 6). Norwich : : Geo Abstracts for the Centre for Development Studies, University College of Swansea. .
Stoneman C and Cliffe L. . 1988. . Zimbabwe: Politics, Economics and Society . , London : : Pinter. .
Weiner D, Moyo S, O'Keefe P and Munslow B. . 1985. . ‘Land use and agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe’. . Journal of Modern African Studies . , Vol. 23((2)): 251––85. .
Wekwete K H. . 1991. . “‘The rural resettlement programme in post‐independence Zimbabwe’. ”. In Rural development and planning in Zimbabwe . , Edited by: Mutizwa‐Mangiza N and Helmsing A. . Aldershot : : Avebury. .
Whitlow R. . 1985. . ‘Conflicts in land use in Zimbabwe: political, economic and environmental perspectives’. . Land Use Policy . , : 309––22. .
1988a. . ‘Soil erosion and conservation policy in Zimbabwe: past, present and future’. . Land Use Policy . , : 419––33. .
( 1988b ). ’Land Degradation in Zimbabwe: a geographical study’ , report prepared on behalf of the Department of Natural Resources , Zimbabwe .
Whitsun Foundation. . 1983. . Land Reform in Zimbabwe . , Harare : : Whitsun Foundation. .
Wilson K. . 1990. . “‘Ecological dynamics and human welfare in Southern Zimbabwe’. ”. London : : University College. .
Zinyama L. . 1982. . ‘Post‐independence land resettlement in Zimbabwe’. . Geography . , Vol. 67((2)): 149––152. .
Zinyama L, Campbell D J and Matiza T. . 1990. . ‘Land policy and access to land in Zimbabwe: the Dewure resettlement scheme’. . Geoforum . , Vol. 31((3)): 359––70. .

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Alexander J. . 1993. . ‘State, Peasantry and Resettlement in Zimbabwe’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 61:: 325––45. .

[2] Berry B B. . 1991. . “‘The impact of agricultural resettlement in Zimbabwe: the Soti Source Model A intensive resettlement scheme’. ”. University of Wit‐watersrand. .

[3] Biot Y, Lambert R and Perkins S. . 1992. . “‘What's the problem? An essay on land degradation, science and development in sub‐Saharan Africa’. ”. Norwich : : School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia. .

[4] Bratton M. . 1987. . ‘The comrades and the countryside: the politics of agricultural policy in Zimbabwe’. . World Politics . , Vol. 398((2)): 174––202. .

[5] Cliffe L. . 1988. . ‘Zimbabwe's agricultural “success” and food security in Southern Africa’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 43:: 4––25. .

[6] Cousins B. , ed. 1989. . “‘People, land and livestock: proceedings of a workshop on the socio‐economic dimensions of livestock production in the communal lands of Zimbabwe’. ”. Harare : : Centre of Applied Social Science, University of Zimbabwe. .

[7] Cusworth J and Walker J. . 1988. . “‘Land Resettlement in Zimbabwe: a preliminary evaluation’. ”. London : : ODA. .

[8] Davies D. . 1990. . ‘Zimbabwe's experience in rural development’. . Development Southern Africa . , Vol. 7:: 166––82. .

[9] Drinkwater M. . 1991. . The state and agrarian change in Zimbabwe;'s communal areas . , London : : Macmillan. .

[10] J Elliott ( 1989 ) ‘Soil erosion and conservation in Zimbabawe: political economy and environment’ , unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Loughborough

[11] 1995. . ‘Processes of interaction across resettlement/communal are boundaries in Zimbabwe’. . Geographical Journal of Zim‐babwe . , Vol. 26:: 1––16. .

[12] Jacobs S. . 1991. . “‘Changing gender relations in Zimbabwe: the case of individual family resettlement areas’. ”. In Male Bias in the Development Process . , Edited by: Elson D. . Manchester : : Manchester University Press. .

[13] Kinsey B H. . 1982. . ‘Forever gained: resettlement and land policy in the context of national development in Zimbabwe’. . Africa . , Vol. 52((3)): 92––113. .

[14] 1983. . ‘Emerging policy issues in Zimbabwe's land resettlement programme’. . Development Policy Review . , Vol. 1((2)): 63––96. .

[15] 1984. . ‘Resettlement: the settlers’ view’. . Social Change and Development . , Vol. 7:

[16] Macgregor J. . 1991. . “‘Woodland resources, ecology, policy and ideology: an historical case study of woodland use in Shurugwi communal area’. ”. Zimbabwe: : University of Loughborough. .

[17] Moyo S. . 1995. . The land question in Zimbabwe . , Harare : : SAPES. .

[18] 1994. . Economic nationalism and land reform in Zimbabwe . , Harare : : SAPES. .

[19] R Palmer ( 1996 ), ‘The threat to people's land in Southern Africa: the current crisis’ , unpublished paper for circulation among NGOs

[20] 1977. . Land and Racial Domination in Rhodesia . , Berkeley : : University of California Press. .

[21] 1990. . ‘Land reform in Zimbabwe: 1980–90’. . African Affairs . , Vol. 89((355)): 163––81. .

[22] Palmer R and Birch I. . 1992. . Zimbabwe: a Land Divided . , Oxford : : Oxfam. .

[23] Potts D and Mutambirwa C C. . 1990. . ‘Rural‐Urban Linkages in Contemporary Harare: Why Migrants Need Their Land’. . Journal of Southern African Studies . , Vol. 16((4)): 676––98. .

[24] Potts D and Mutambirwa C C. . 1991. . ‘Low‐Income Housing in Harare: Overcrowding and Commodific‐ation’. . Third World Planning Review . , Vol. 13((1)): 1––26. .

[25] Potts D. . 1996. . ‘Zimbabwean migrants must keep their land: support for the Land Tenure Commissioner's Report’. . Zimbabwe Review . , September;

[26] Scoones I. . 1990. . “‘Livestock populations and household economics: a case study from southern Zimbabwe’. ”. Imperial College, University of London. .

[27] Sibanda C. . 1981. . The Tribal Trust Lands of Rhodesia ‐ Problems of Development . , (Centre for Development Studies Monograph Series no. 6). Norwich : : Geo Abstracts for the Centre for Development Studies, University College of Swansea. .

[28] Stoneman C and Cliffe L. . 1988. . Zimbabwe: Politics, Economics and Society . , London : : Pinter. .

[29] Weiner D, Moyo S, O'Keefe P and Munslow B. . 1985. . ‘Land use and agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe’. . Journal of Modern African Studies . , Vol. 23((2)): 251––85. .

[30] Wekwete K H. . 1991. . “‘The rural resettlement programme in post‐independence Zimbabwe’. ”. In Rural development and planning in Zimbabwe . , Edited by: Mutizwa‐Mangiza N and Helmsing A. . Aldershot : : Avebury. .

[31] Whitlow R. . 1985. . ‘Conflicts in land use in Zimbabwe: political, economic and environmental perspectives’. . Land Use Policy . , : 309––22. .

[32] 1988a. . ‘Soil erosion and conservation policy in Zimbabwe: past, present and future’. . Land Use Policy . , : 419––33. .

[33] ( 1988b ). ’Land Degradation in Zimbabwe: a geographical study’ , report prepared on behalf of the Department of Natural Resources , Zimbabwe .

[34] Whitsun Foundation. . 1983. . Land Reform in Zimbabwe . , Harare : : Whitsun Foundation. .

[35] Wilson K. . 1990. . “‘Ecological dynamics and human welfare in Southern Zimbabwe’. ”. London : : University College. .

[36] Zinyama L. . 1982. . ‘Post‐independence land resettlement in Zimbabwe’. . Geography . , Vol. 67((2)): 149––152. .

[37] Zinyama L, Campbell D J and Matiza T. . 1990. . ‘Land policy and access to land in Zimbabwe: the Dewure resettlement scheme’. . Geoforum . , Vol. 31((3)): 359––70. .