Zimbabwe’s decolonization could never be complete without addressing the land question. Sam Moyo’s work, spanning over three decades, has been a point of reference in the discussion of land policy performance, rural mobilization and trends in land reform. His work mostly focused on influencing policy, creating connections between local processes (such as land occupations), national policy and global debates. The article provides a summary of Sam Moyo’s writing on land reform policy in Zimbabwe. It highlights the complex relationships that exist between policy formulation, rural mobilization and implementation of policy. Whilst celebrating the work of an icon, the article also takes a more critical stance on outstanding issues as pertaining to the fast-track land reform process that began in 2000. The Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) has not adequately resolved the land tenure question and currently faces the threat of elite capture.

Fast track land reform in most instances has been treated as a process only entailing the redistribution of formerly white-owned land to blacks. However, there are other deeper changes that have not yet been coherently analysed, such as the nature of local power relations and the local government system; especially the manner in which it balances the interests of traditional authority and elected authorities. The local government system in fast track areas is in a state of flux. On the one hand, there is potential for a more inclusive and participatory model of local government, and on the other hand, however, official processes through legal enactments suggest that policy craftsmen are still intent on continuing with policies that promote the establishment of two competing sites of power. This paper explores the manner in which rural local government has been treated in the literature, and how it is being re-established in the aftermath of the ‘jambanja’, a period in which the ‘rule of law’ was literally suspended. Rather than depending only on official processes, the field evidence that analyses the actual practice of local government is also utilised. The paper contributes towards a more coherent understanding of the links between the colonial state's control imperative and the post-colonial's ambition to exert similar control, albeit under different political conditions.

Using an on-going real case study of a micro-finance project modeled on financial inclusion in Zimbabwe, a country with high levels of poverty, we provide real time insights on entrepreneurship and micro-finance in this environment focusing on the nature of challenges faced by entrepreneurs and potential solutions to these challenges. While acknowledging this is a research stream that has dominated micro-finance, our study extends the scope of research beyond Asia and Latin America to include insights from an African market where micro-finance has recorded significant growth yet very few stories are told about these experiences. Our case study provides an opportunity to reflect on emerging and previously held insights in real time using a project that is still in the process of dealing with these challenges. We then go onto illustrate how our inclusive approach to serving the unbanked segment in Zimbabwe has potential for broader contribution to poverty reduction among citizens who are exposed to extreme conditions of poverty. Our paper also outlines an alternative approach of solutions to the challenges faced by micro-finance entrepreneurs, which could be applied by entrepreneurs in environments facing similar challenges.