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Clifford Mabhena

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‘Visible Hectares, Vanishing Livelihoods’: A case of the Fast Track Land Reform and Resettlement Programme in southern Matabeleland - Zimbabwe Clifford Mabhena Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Social Sciences (Development Studies) Faculty of Social Science and Humanities University of Fort Hare 2010 i Declaration This work has not been previously submitted in whole, or in part, for the award of any other degree. It is my work. Each significant contribution to, and quotation in, this dissertation from the work of other people has been attributed, and has been cited and referenced. Signature Date ii Abstract: Land reform has been going on in Zimbabwe since the state attained independence from Britain in 1980 as a way of enhancing agrarian livelihoods for the formerly marginalized people. This study argues that, the Land Reform Programme in Southern Matabeleland rather than enhancing agrarian livelihoods, well established livelihoods have actually been drastically reduced. This has been exacerbated by the state programme of land re-distribution that prescribes a „one size fits all‟ model. Yet this is contrary to the thinking in development discourse that equitable land distribution increases rural livelihoods. As a way of gathering data this study utilized ethnography and case study methodologies. I spent two years interacting and interviewing purposively selected new resettles, communal residents, migrant workers and gold panners in this region. Results from this study confirm that, land reform has greatly reduced livelihoods, particularly agrarian livelihoods. Also, this research has found out that, the majority of residents now depend on off-farm livelihoods such as gold panning and migration to neighbouring South Africa. This thesis therefore concludes that, despite a massive expropriation of former commercial farms, people of Southern Matabeleland have not benefitted much as the village settlements (A1) and the small size farms (A2) have not received support from this live-stocking community. People in this region pin their hopes on livestock rearing to sustain their livelihoods and this study therefore recommends that, any agrarian transformation programmes should address the issues that promote livestock rearing. iii Acknowledgements Many thanks to all the fieldwork participants whose thoughts and perceptions form the bedrock of this study; and particularly my key informants Thabani Moyo, Dula Ncube, Ronnie Sibanda and Thabiso Mlilo for their interest, enthusiasm and commitment to seeing my fieldwork a success. I acknowledge the unwavering support given by the Provincial land officer, Mr. Moyo for allowing me to use his District Land Officers for Gwanda and Umzingwane districts as key contacts in conducting fieldwork in resettlement areas. Special thanks to Thabani Moyo for facilitating rapport with politically charged District Land Committees. I am deeply grateful to my supervisor Professor Leslie John Bank, for his guidance, patience and hard work throughout the years. Without his encouragement and invaluable comments this thesis would never have been written. For their intellectual input many thanks to Professor Gary Minkley and Dr Erik Hofstee. To Govan Mbeki Research and Development Centre I pay my gratitude for the financial support you provided to make this study possible. I do not know how to express deep gratitude I owe to my family in particular my wife Violet Mabhena (nee Zulu) and my daughter Ntombikayise Mabhena who endured long periods of separation while I was pursuing this study. I dedicate this thesis to you, and god bless you my darlings. Last but not least I thank my parents Jerick Mabhena and Cecelia Mabhena for encouraging me to pursue a study at this level whilst they are still alive. I thank you. iv Table of Contents Declaration .............................................................................................................................................. ii Abstract: ................................................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ iv Matabeleland South Map ............................................................................................................. ix Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................ x CHAPTER 1 .............................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION: CONTEXTUALISNG RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LIVELIHOOD IN SOUTHERN MATABELELAND ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1:1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1:2 Debating Land Reform ...................................................................................................................... 3 1:3 Perspectives on Development .......................................................................................................... 8 1:4 The Top-Down and the bottom up paradigms ............................................................................... 13 1:5 Matabeleland and the dilemma of internal colonization ............................................................... 18 1:6 Sustainable Livelihoods paradigm .................................................................................................. 21 1:7 Agrarian livelihoods imposed.......................................................................................................... 26 1:8 Location of study districts in Matabeleland South ......................................................................... 32 1:9 The study area................................................................................................................................. 34 1:10 Research Methods: approaches and orientation ......................................................................... 39 1:11 Thesis map .................................................................................................................................... 44 Chapter Two .......................................................................................................................................... 47 Ethnicity and the Dynamics of Political Domination in Southern Matabeleland ................................. 47 2:1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 47 2:2 Making of Ethnicity before Independence ..................................................................................... 48 2:3 Chiefship and Ethnicity in Wenlock ................................................................................................ 50 2:4 Traditional structures as colonial agents ........................................................................................ 54 2:5 The problems of eviction ................................................................................................................ 56 v 2:6 Transition to independence and Gukurahundi ............................................................................... 58 2:7 Gukurahundi and revival of ethnicity ............................................................................................. 62 2:8 Development, Changing Authorities and Internal Colonialism 1980-1988 .................................... 64 2:9 Post-Unity and the development agenda 1987-2007 ..................................................................... 68 2:10 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 75 Chapter 3 ............................................................................................................................................... 77 The Fast Track Land Reform and Resettlement Programme and its Consequences ............................ 77 3:1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 77 3:2 Land apportionment and uses before the Fast Track ..................................................................... 79 3:3 Politics of Land distribution and unsettled land in Southern Matabeleland .................................. 81 3:4 Fast-track land distribution in Southern Matabeleland .................................................................. 88 3:5 Land Reforms: a comparative assessment ................................................................................... 101 3:6 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 108 Chapter 4 ............................................................................................................................................. 110 Living off the Land: Pastoral and Agrarian Livelihoods ....................................................................... 110 4:1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................
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