Fast-track land reform, politics and social capital: The case of Rouxdale farm in Zimbabwe

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Published: Nov 1, 2021
Keywords:
Zimbabwe Zanu-PF land reform social capital land governance politics elite influence land pressure livelihoods small-scale model

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Senzeni Ncube
Centre for African Studies, University of Cape Town

Abstract




This article investigates the effect of the politicisation of land on the social capital and agricultural livelihoods of beneficiaries of the A1 villagised model of the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP). The model allocates individual arable and residential plots to beneficiaries, while they share grazing land, social infrastructure and services. Beneficiaries rely on social capital to access resources for agricultural production. Proponents of the FTLRP have portrayed the model as successful because it creates livelihoods. Missing in these studies is the politicisation of land through reallocation of land within the model to advance individual political interests, and its effect on livelihoods. The resultant strain on social capital negatively affects agricultural production, which depends on it heavily. The article argues that Zimbabwe’s top-down land governance system leaves it open to manipulation by politically connected individuals in the service of their own personal and political interests. It further argues that this weakness in the governance system is due to the fact that the state owns the land, which means that beneficiaries of the programme do not have the power to challenge the decisions of politicians and bureaucrats.




Article Details

How to Cite
Ncube, S. (2021). Fast-track land reform, politics and social capital: The case of Rouxdale farm in Zimbabwe. The Africa Governance Papers, 1(1). Retrieved from https://tagp.gga.org/index.php/system/article/view/6
Issue
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2021): Dimensions of freedom and governance: past, present, future
Section
Research Articles
Author Biography

Senzeni Ncube, Centre for African Studies, University of Cape Town

Senzeni Ncube is a Postdoctoral Fellow under the Land and Democracy National Research Foundation (NRF) Chair at the Centre for African Studies, University of Cape Town. Her research interests include land and agrarian reform in Africa, land displacement and livelihoods, and food security.

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