The Implications of Land Reform on Sustainable Development of Rural Communities in Zimbabwe: the Case of Chief Svosve Area in Mashonaland East Province

Abstract

Two of the most common aspects of implementing land reform include securing and formalizing property rights, redistribution of land from big to small farmers, and restitution for those who have been displaced by war or other factors. In other words, land reform redistributes and redefines property rights, including agricultural property rights, among other things. Land reform, as currently conceived, has a significant impact on rural people's livelihoods since it is utilized to solve fairness and productivity concerns. This dissertation investigates the implications of land reform on sustainable development of rural communities in Zimbabwe by focusing on a case study of Chief Svosve area in Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe. To do this, primary field data comprising of 23 variables across 148 samples was collected. Following the quantitative and qualitative analysis of these variables, the research working hypothesis, the research findings failed to reject the hypothesis that Land reform triggers some effects on sustainable development of Chief Svosve rural community. This is due to the fact that research established that policies exists and legal frameworks are shaping up the pace and benefits of land reform in the community. However, considering the socio-economic implications of land reform on the culture of the people of Chief Svosve area, the research findings reject the working hypothesis. This outcome is due to the fact that the economic gains which are slowly accruing from land reform are causing negative impacts on the rich indigenous culture of Chief Svosve area as manifested by the youth in the area who are now violating the existence of some cultural norms and values. According to the findings of the study, Zimbabwe's greatest challenge over the last two decades has been to redistribute land equitably while also overcoming various legal and financial constraints imposed by colonial injustices that left the country with a dual land ownership structure skewed along racial lines. However, despite Zimbabwe's progress, there are still many difficulties that need to be dealt with in order for it to go forward. Reforming land usage, property rights, agriculture, and administration are all aspects of land reform. In order to prevent the land problem from manifesting itself in other ways, such as decreased agricultural productivity, ambiguity about land rights, and poor land administration, the Zimbabwean government has addressed only one but very important aspect of land reform. Other requirements of the Land Management framework must be met as well. The study recommends that Stakeholders should work with regional organisations to learn lessons on good practice. And they should work with development partners to promote international lesson learning. The study also recommends a revision of the FTLRP policy to hinder the addition of beneficiaries on already allocated land in villages. Strict measures to avoid this problem should be established to limit the politicisation of land as a tool for garnering votes by politicians