Beyond informality: ‘Nimble peri-urban land transactions’ - how migrants on the margins trade, access and hold land for settlement

Abstract

How do migrants on the margins trade, access, and hold land for settlement? This ethnographic inquiry based on a case study of Malawian migrants in peri-urban Zimbabwe revealed the practice of ‘Nimble peri-urban land transactions’—encompassing not only the extralegal and informal aspects of land transactions but also emphasising flexibility, agility, conviviality and invisibility in land acquisition. What sets ‘Nimble peri-urban land transactions’ apart from the characterisation of conventional informal land transactions is the profound role played by ‘conviviality’ in creating a congenial atmosphere for acquiring and securing land rights. Individuals in convivial connections act as essential intermediaries, witnesses, and mediators in land deals. Their contributions are instrumental in maintaining spatial orderliness within the community, demonstrating that informal land transactions are not always chaotic or disorderly as perceived but can adhere to a well-structured set of ‘nimble’ norms and mechanisms that regulate land access and ownership. Nimble peri-urban land transactions not only provide a lifeline to individuals and families seeking a place to call home but also contribute to the overall urbanisation and development of peri-urban areas. Thus, the study challenges prevailing notions of land governance by emphasising the importance of recognising and comprehending not only the ‘informality’ but also the ‘nimble transactions’ that characterise land markets in peri-urban areas. It calls for a more holistic approach to land governance, acknowledging that rigid formalities alone may not adequately address the unique needs and realities of marginalised populations in these contexts.