Zimbabwe's experience in rural development

Abstract

This paper reviews the evolution of rural development policy and planning in Zimbabwe within three time periods: the ‘colonial’ era from 1890 to c 1977, the short but significant transitional period from 1977 to 1980. and independence thereafter. Two distinct but related major components of rural development have emerged: internal development within Communal Areas; and resettlement of peasant farmers from areas elsewhere, currently mainly on to former White farmland. Despite marked ideological and political changes, rural planning and policy have shown some continuity in outlook and procedures. Recent progress in peasant agricultural output is encouraging, but the basic problems of (hitherto) increasing population pressures on degrading land resources seem intractable and to be worsening in many Communal Areas. The present government has still to address the rural development problem comprehensively and on a national scale.

Notes

Former Professor of Geography at the Universities of Zimbabwe and Natal, Pietermaritzburg.