Conflict in Perpetuity? Examining Zimbabwe’s protracted social conflict through the lens of land reform Bryan M. Sims Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Pierre du Toit March 2015 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za DECLARATION By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. 22 February 2015 Copyright © 2015 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved ! ii! Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za ABSTRACT This dissertation analyses the relationship between civil society and political leadership within the context of Zimbabwe’s protracted social conflict, particularly through the lens of land policy. Through the use of strategic informants, it yields important insights into the origins, form and impact of political leadership and civil society in a way that will expose the dynamics of elite and grassroots mobilisation and the political context in which land policy is either made or obstructed. Specifically, this dissertation examines two research questions. First, if political leadership is not representative of the citizenry, is land policy more likely to engender overt conflict? Second, if civil society has an autonomous role in the public sphere, is land policy more likely to benefit citizens? This dissertation also confronts an emerging empirical problem: the absence of descriptive data in regards to how civil society and political leadership have engaged in reforming land policy in Zimbabwe during the period of transition from 2008 to 2013. By measuring representation and autonomy – indicators of human needs satisfaction– this dissertation traced each phase of the protracted social conflict as it both helped to create the conditions for a liberation model of representation while simultaneously further exacerbating protracted social conflict within Zimbabwe. ! ! ! iii! Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za OPSOMMING! ! ! Hierdie tesis ontleed die verhouding tussen die burgerlike samelewing en politieke leierskap veral deur die lens van grondbeleid, binne die konteks van Zimbabwe se uitgerekte sosiale konflik. Dit het ten doel om belangrike insigte op te lewer in die oorsprong, vorm en impak van politieke leierskap en die burgerlike samelewing. Die word blootgestel in 'n manier wat die dinamika van die elite en mobilisering op grondvlak in ag neem soweel as die politieke konteks waarin grondbeleid óf gemaak is of belemmer word. Hierdie tesis konfronteer ook 'n opkomende empiriese probleem: die afwesigheid van beskrywende data met betrekking tot die betrokkenheod van die burgerlike samelewing en politieke leierskap tydens die grondhervorming proses in Zimbabwe gedurende die tydperk van oorgang tussen 2008 en 2013. Deur die meting van verteenwoordiging en outonomie - aanwysers van menslike behoeftes bevrediging - word elke fase van die uitgerekte sosiale konflik ondersoek met betrekking tot hoe ‘n bevryding model van verteenwoordigheid beide gehelp het om die voorwaardes te skepvir die eindeiging van die PSC; maar terselfdertyd het dit ook die sosiale konflik in Zimbabwe verder uitgerek. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! iv! Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To my wife Jean, for without her never-failing support and encouragement this dissertation would have carried on for eternity. To the memory of IDASA, and the guidance and examples of Karin Alexander and Yvette Geyer. And finally, to my parents and the entire Scrimgeour family for their constant encouragement and for helping me to maintain a semblance of sanity throughout this endeavour. ! v! Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Table of Contents Abbrevations ................................................................................................................................ x! List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ xii! List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ xiii! List of Maps............................................................................................................................... xiv! Chapter One Introduction! 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1! 1.1.1 Rationale for study ............................................................................................................... 1! 1.1.2 Problem statement ................................................................................................................ 2! 1.1.3 Research aims ....................................................................................................................... 3! 1.1.4 Research questions ............................................................................................................... 3! 1.1.5 Theoretical framework ......................................................................................................... 4! 1.2 Research Design ..................................................................................................................... 6! 1.2.1 Research framework ............................................................................................................. 6! 1.2.2 Definitions ............................................................................................................................ 6! 1.2.3 Data sources ........................................................................................................................ 19! 1.2.4 Validity and reliability ........................................................................................................ 21! 1.3 Limitations and Delimitations ............................................................................................ 22! 1.3.1 Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 22! 1.3.2 Delimitations ...................................................................................................................... 22! 1.4 Chapter Outlines ................................................................................................................. 23! Chapter Two! Human Needs, Protracted Social Conflict and Land Ownership:! a conceptual framework! 2.1!Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 25! 2.2 Overview of Human Needs ................................................................................................. 26! 2.2.1 Need typology .................................................................................................................... 26! 2.2.2 Need satisfiers .................................................................................................................... 29! 2.3 Human Needs and Protracted Social Conflict .................................................................. 30! 2.3.1 Preconditions of protracted social conflict ......................................................................... 31! 2.3.2 Process-level dynamics and the genesis of overt conflict .................................................. 34! 2.3.3 Protracted Social Conflict and the decay of state and civil relations ................................. 36! 2.4 Protracted Social Conflict and the politics of transition and land policy ...................... 37! 2.4.1 Power-sharing as a means of solving PSC ......................................................................... 37! 2.4.2 Land policy, transition, and PSC ........................................................................................ 39! 2.5 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 42! ! vi! Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Chapter Three! Anatomy of a Conflict: Segregation and Subjugation of Africans in Rhodesia! 3.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 44! 3.2 Seeds of Conflict: Company Occupation of Southern Rhodesia ..................................... 44! 3.2.1. Occupation and early land policy ...................................................................................... 44! 3.2.2 The First Chimurenga (1896-1897) .................................................................................... 49! 3.3 Consolidation of the Settler State ....................................................................................... 50! 3.3.1 Settler identity .................................................................................................................... 51! 3.4 Land Segregation and Settler Domination ........................................................................ 55! 3.4.1 Rhodesian Apartheid under the Land Apportionment Act