Post Zimbabwe’s Fast Track Land Reform Programme: Land Conflicts at Two Farms in Goromonzi District

Abstract

The study was conducted to enhance the breadth and depth of knowledge on the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) through analysis of land conflicts and their sources in Goromonzi district. The researcher applied a qualitative approach to design the study. Two A1 farms were selectedone from the northern part and another from the southern part of the district. Three framework elements were considered. These are: knowledge claims, strategies of enquiry and data collection and analysis methods. The key themes on land conflicts that emerged from the field are farm boundaries, access to farm infrastructure and equipment, extraction of natural resources, land ownership and the government of Zimbabwe’s land reform re-planning exercise. Maximising the positive functions of land conflicts; enhancing the farmers’ knowledge on administrative mechanisms and resolution procedures of land conflicts and refining land tenure policy and its implementation are the three key recommendations. The conflicts may point to issues pertaining to the organisation and relations within the new farming communities and beyond. Accordingly, the conflicts partly facilitate deeper understanding of the FTLRP and are cornerstones for improving the success of the FTLRP and future land reforms.