Fast Track Land Reform Programme and Women in Goromonzi District, Zimbabwe A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts of Rhodes University by Loveness Chakona Supervisor: Dr Kirk Helliker Department of Sociology December 2011 This thesis is dedicated to all my family, who have always supported, encouraged and believed in me in all my endeavours. ii Abstract From the year 2000, land became the key signifier for tackling the unfinished business of the decolonisation process in Zimbabwe, notably by rectifying the racially-based land injustices of the past through land redistribution. This took the form of the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP). However, the racialised character and focus of the FTLRP tended to mask or at least downplay important gender dimensions to land in Zimbabwe. Colonial and post-colonial Zimbabwe (up to 2000) had instigated, propagated and reproduced land ownership, control and access along a distinctively patriarchal basis which left women either totally excluded or incorporated in an oppressive manner. This patriarchal structuring of the land question was rooted in institutions, practices and discourses. Although a burgeoning number of studies have been undertaken on the FTLRP, few have had a distinctively gender focus in seeking to identify, examine and assess the effect of the programme on patriarchal relations and the socio-economic livelihoods of rural women. This thesis makes a contribution to filling this lacuna by offering an empirically-rich study of land redistribution in one particular district in Zimbabwe, namely, Goromonzi District. This entails a focus on women on A1 resettlement farms in the district (and specifically women who came from nearby customary areas) and on women who continue to live in customary areas in the district. My thesis concludes that the FTLRP is seriously flawed in terms of addressing and tackling the patriarchal structures that underpin the Zimbabwean land question. iii Acknowledgements The undertaking of this thesis has been one of the most significant challenges I have ever had to face. Without the support, patience and guidance of the following people, this study would not have reached completion. It is to them that I owe my deepest gratitude: . Dr. Kirk David Helliker who undertook to act as my Supervisor despite his many other academic and professional commitments. His wisdom, patience, knowledge, commitment and constructive criticism to the highest standards inspired and motivated me to the end. In the Sociology Department, I also appreciate the advice, criticism, academic guidance and moral support of the lecturers and support staff over the past two years. You have made the often stressful, lonely and tiresome journey easy and interesting. To Professor Sam Moyo and the Management Board of African Institute for Agrarian Studies (AIAS) in Harare, I wholly thank you for your kindness. You made the furthering of my studies possible through by entry into the ‘Collaborative Research Agreement’ facilitated by my Supervisor, Dr. Helliker. As a result, I subsequently became one of AIAS’ Research Associates. We worked together constantly, from data collection to data analysis. I wish to mention Walter Chambati (the Project Manager for AIAS) with whom I worked closely, and thank him for his overwhelming support in ensuring that my research activities were well implemented, monitored, supervised, evaluated and reported. I also thank Jeff Gwariwa and Tapiwa Mutemajiri (both from the Finance and Administration Section) for their unwavering support, especially the setting up of a work station for me with access to resources. My thanks also to Ndabazihle Nyoni for his constructive criticism especially on gender and agrarian issues; and to Kingstone Mujeyi and Charity Dangwa for their assistance in data analysis. My friend, Anold, for moral support and advice especially through the difficult moments encountered during the development of my thesis. To my student colleagues, especially Manase Chiweshe – thank you for the support in the early stages of developing my thesis. Above all, I thank my family, especially my brother Albert, who inspired my final effort despite the enormous work pressures and financial challenges we were facing together. My appreciation to “Ruru”, for singing ‘old McDonald’ for me whenever I finished reading. iv . Thank you to all the stakeholders in Goromonzi District – A1 women farmers at Dunstan and Lot 3 of Buena Vista farms; women and men in Gwaze Communal Area; Extension Officers for all the study sites (Mr Mposi, Mrs Mposi and Mrs Matipano) for assistance in the field; and key informants who participated in the research project. I thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to have hands-on-experience about the reality of the situation on the ground. v Acronyms ADA Agriculture Development Authority AGRITEX Agricultural Research and Extension Services AIAS African Institute for Agrarian Studies ANC African National Congress ARDA Agriculture and Rural Development Authority AREX Agriculture Research Extension BSAC British South Africa Company CAs Communal Areas CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women CFU Commercial Farmers Union CoS Committee of Seven DA District Administrator DDF District Development Fund DLC District Land Committee EMA Environmental Management Authority ESAP Economic Structural Adjustment Programme FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations FCZ Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe FGDs Focus Group Discussions FTLRP Fast Track Land Reform Programme GDP Gross Domestic Product GoZ Government of Zimbabwe GRDC Goromonzi Rural District Council IRP Intensive Resettlement Programme LAMA Legal Age of Majority Act LONRHO London and Rhodesian Mining and Land Company LRRP 1 Land Reform and Resettlement Programme (Phase 1) LRRP 2 Land Reform and Resettlement Programme (Phase 2) LSCF Large Scale Commercial Farming MDC Movement for Democratic Change vi MoL Ministry of Lands NGO Non Governmental Organisation NLHA Native Land Husbandry Act PLRC Presidential Land Review Committee RAs Resettlement Areas RDC Rural District Council SABC South African Broadcasting Corporation SPSS Statistical Package for Social Scientists SSCF Small Scale Commercial Farming TTLs Tribal Trust Lands UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNICEF United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund VIDCO Village Development Committee WADCO Ward Development Committee WLLG Women and Land Lobby Group WLWRSA Women’s Land and Water Rights in Southern Africa WLZ Women and Land in Zimbabwe WW1 World War 1 ZANU-PF Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front ZESA Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority ZRP Zimbabwe Republic Police ZWRCN Zimbabwe Women Resource Centre Network vii Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... iv Acronyms .................................................................................................................................. vi List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... xii List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... xii List of Boxes ............................................................................................................................ xii List of Photos ........................................................................................................................... xii List of Appendices ................................................................................................................. xiii Chapter 1: Introduction and Methodology ................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Women and Land in Zimbabwe .................................................................................. 2 1.3 Research Methodology ................................................................................................ 4 1.3.1 Research Significance and Research Goals ............................................................. 4 1.3.2 Research Design ...................................................................................................... 5 1.3.3 Challenges faced in the Field ................................................................................... 9 1.4 Thesis Outline ........................................................................................................... 11 Chapter Two: Patriarchy, Land and Zimbabwe ....................................................................... 12 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Patriarchy and Patriarchal Societies ............................................................................... 13 2.3 Patriarchy, Land and Gender .......................................................................................... 16 2.3.1 Customary Systems……………………………………………………………….18 2.3.2 Ongoing Land Challenges for Women – African Examples……………………