Tribal Trust Lands Research Articles

Estimating Indigenous Resources for Fuel-wood and Poles and Plantation Requirements in the Tribal Trust Lands of Zimbabwe Rhodesia

SYNOPSIS The difficulties encountered in planning for the conservation of indigenous timber resources and in estimating the timber consumption in tribal trust land are outlined in this paper. An estimate of these resources and of the consumption of timber, together with an estimate of exotic plantations required to make up any shortfall of timber, is given. Some 66 000 ha of eucalypts are currently required in the tribal trust lands, where planting has thus far provided only 3 800 ha. The types of plantations established and the species used are mentioned. The rural population has, generally speaking, shown only limited enthusiasm for growing exotics, one of the reasons being the traditional use of indigenous timber which is still available in most areas without cost, and the preference for indigenous timber compared to eucalypts. The need for more reliable data for future planning is emphasised. Substitutes for fuel-wood are discussed and the need to reserve areas of indigenous timber in tribal trust land for the protection of soil and water and for fuel-wood are proposed.

The Planting of Woodlots for the Fuel-wood Requirements of Tribal Trust Land Populations in Zimbabwe Rhodesia: A Review of Past and Future Development

SYNOPSIS Since 1930, the State forestry organisation has acted in an advisory role to the administrators, agriculturists and the tribal authorities in the tribal trust lands with the main object of promoting and encouraging the planting of exotic trees for domestic use. Some 3 800 ha of plantations of varying size, as well as 30 forest nurseries have been established over this period, but the plantation area can hardly be considered adequate when it is estimated that 66 000 ha are necessary to meet the present needs of the rural population in the tribal areas. Although the extension of woodlot plantations has been restricted by finance and hampered by minor practical problems, the underlying reasons for the slow rate of plantation development are considered to be socio-economic rather than financial or technical. It is believed that until the productivity of the agricultural land is raised from subsistence to economic levels, only limited progress will be made in encouraging and promoting the establishmen...

6.7 A short report on an artificial insemination project in the African areas of Zimbabwe

African areas in the context of Zimbabwe refer to those parts of the country normally inhabited by the indigenous people. They constitute some 16.4 million ha and nearly half the country. Nine tenths of this land are communally owned by subsistence farmers and referred to as Tribal Trust Lands. The remaining one tenth is held on an individual, freehold or leasehold basis and is known as the Purchase land areas.

Towards an urbanization strategy for Zimbabwe

Rapid urbanization through rural-urban migration (hitherto controlled by legislation) is developing in Zimbabwe with the advent of black majority rule. Although some advocate its encouragement to relieve pressures on Tribal Trust Lands, rapid urbanization will nevertheless pose severe planning problems. Although current public sector development proposals represent a conceptual advance, a comprehensive urbanization strategy has yet to emerge. This paper considers such a strategy, relating the country's varying regional development potential to a scheme of classification for proposed growth centres and rural service centres, based on their different characteristics and locations. It is concluded that an hierarchy of growth centres, evaluated by economic efficiency criteria, should be developed in the formerly white-controlled national economic core. In the peripheral, basically subsistent Tribal Trust Lands, a limited number of rural service centres should be developed, based on social/equity criteria. The choice and location of these various development centres, and their phasing should contribute to building up a dynamic national urban system that is nationally and regionally integrated, in contrast to past dualism, and will more effectively serve the needs of planned urbanization and of regional development.

A 13-YEAR POPULATION STUDY OF THE BLACK EAGLES IN THEMATOPOS, RHODESIA, 1964–1976

Summary Gargett, V. 1977. A 13-year population study of the Black Eagles in the Matopos, Rhodesia, 1964–1976. Ostrich 48:17-27. The resident black Eagle Aquila verreauxi population in approximately 620 km2 of the Matopos, Rhodesia, underwent changes from 1971 and appeared less stable than in the first five years. Six new territories were established in the National Park; two territories in Tribal Trust Land were abandoned; one territory in the National Park vacant for five years and one in Tribal Land vacant for at least 11 years were reoccupied. breeding data covering 13 years confirm the five-year findings. In 652 pair-years 442 breeding attempts were made with 339 young eagles f edging: a reproductive success rate of 0,52 young per pair per year. On average 68 % of the population bred every year, each pair attempted breeding in two years out of three, and one attempt in four was unsuccessful. Annual and individual variations in breeding performance were considerable, from 46% to 89% of the population b...

The Effects of Different Forms of Land Use on the Ecology of a Semi-Arid Region in South-Eastern Rhodesia

Natural vegetation in the drier parts of Africa probably evolved under light utilization by shifting populations of indigenous herbivores. The pattern and intensity of utilization have changed since the introduction of domestic livestock although, prior to colonization by the white man, utilization remained light because both human and domestic animal populations were small and the African tribesmen were nomadic (Maloiy & Heady 1965). The recent rapid increase in human and livestock populations (Casebeer 1968; Hornby 1968) has led to serious and extensive damage over large tracts of land. In Rhodesia, over-utilization of vegetation began shortly after 1914 and by 1966 some 490% of the Tribal Trust Lands (where there is communal ownership of land) were either overgrazed or had very little herbaceous cover (Cleghorn 1966). Some of the most badly degraded of these areas are in the south-eastern 'lowveld' of Rhodesia. The term 'lowveld' denotes the hot, semi-arid regions of tree/bush savanna, below an altitude of c. 800 m, in which extensive livestock ranching is the main form of land use. The natural vegetation is generally the only source of food for livestock and, by virtue of its cover, it is vital for the conservation of soil and water resources. The area is too dry for planted pastures and improvement of the protective cover and forage value of the range must be achieved by manipulating the natural vegetation. The aim of this study, made in 1970-2, was to determine the composition, trends in composition and primary productivity of an area of lowveld vegetation in which different forms of land use were being applied, and to establish key factors in its ecology. The emphasis has been on overall interrelationships of the vegetation, rather than on detailed studies of particular aspects. In order to reduce inter-site variability, the study was restricted to basalt-derived soils.

Development and Differentiation in the Post-Independence Era: Continuity or Change in ARDA-Sanyati Irrigation in Zimbabwe (1980–1990)

The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), formerly known as the Tribal Trust Land Development Corporation (TILCOR), is a state agency which manages all the settler or outgrower schemes adjacent to its estates. In Sanyati, the colonial government endeavoured to secure the plotholders on the Gowe Irrigation Scheme but after independence emphasis was on making Gowe a ‘self-provisioning’ asset. With reference to Gowe-Sanyati, this paper explores development and differentiation processes in an attempt to discern elements of continuity or change in ARDA-Sanyati irrigation. The reactions of the Gowe irrigators to state policies that proscribed accumulation are a manifestation of the tension which was informed by Rhodesian-era evictions and resettlements. In pursuance of accumulation the plotholding households in Gowe were reluctant to perpetually serve as a labour repository of the main irrigation estate. Government interventionist policies in the Sanyati schemes are examined. The paper argues that the availability of technical, financial and other resources after independence contributed to the cotton boom and an intensified commercialisation drive which gave rise to greater forms of differentiation compared with the colonial period. In addition, the paper analyses the tenuous or fragile relationships between the plotholders and the estate. The major bone of contention was the inadequacy of the plots allocated to the farmers and the highly detested lease agreement which hindered accumulation. Inconsistencies with people's aspirations after independence led to a ‘crisis of expectations’ among those who believed independence would bring more land and no charge (land rent) for utilising the land. Although various charges impoverished the growers, the paper argues that poverty did not preclude differentiation as distinct categories of resource-rich and resource-poor plotholders emerged in the post-independence era.