The land reform deception
Subtitle: political opportunism in Zimbabwe's land seizure era
By: Charles Laurie ; with foreword by Stephen Chan
Contributors: Chan, Stephen, 1949-
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 398
ISBN-13: 9780199398294; 9780190680527
Subjects: Politics and government; Fast Track Land Reform Programme (Zimbabwe); Agriculture and state; Land tenure; Economic conditions; Land reform
Description: This work explores what is inarguably the most socially and economically transformative event in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980-the land seizure era. It explains why Mugabe risked the social and economic well-being of Zimbabwe by targeting commercial farms, which were a vital source of commodities, a major employer, and a critical source of tax revenue. It also uncovers why the 'land redistribution program,' as Mugabe and the ruling ZANU-PF party claimed the takeovers to be, occurred 20 years after independence and in a very chaotic manner.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 324-377) and index.
Table of contents: title: Overview of the land seizure era; title: ZANU-PF's land redistribution gamble; title: Mugabe targets agriculture : land reform or political gimmick?; title: Strategy behind farm seizures; title: Suppressing the MDC; title: Seizing land and agri-property; title: Moving onto farms : the emergence of extortion and "protection" schemes; title: Farmer eviction methods; title: Impact on commercial agriculture production; title: Appendix A : research methodolgy; title: Appendix B : overview of interview respondents; title: Appendix C : land seizure era flowcharts.