Battle for legitimacy: revisiting autochthony and (re)invented authority in Zimbabwe’s resettlement areas

ABSTRACT

This study examines the intersection of autochthony and (re)invented claims of authority in Zimbabwe’s resettlement areas, exploring how traditional leaders and war veterans battle for legitimacy in the resettlement areas. It argues that despite the general view that chiefs are recognised by everyone in the rural areas, their legitimacy is being challenged and in some cases with the use of violence. Although chiefs are recognised as the legitimate leaders in some resettlement areas, this study shows that their authority is being challenged in Insiza District’s resettlement area, covering Mpalawani, Gwamanyanga, Mpopoti and Lambamayi. The study also highlights how different people define autochthony, tradition and belonging in Zimbabwe’s resettled areas.

RÉSUMÉ

Cette étude examine l’intersection entre l’autochtonie et les revendications d’autorité (ré)inventées dans les zones de réinstallation du Zimbabwe, en explorant comment les chefs traditionnels et les vétérans de guerre se battent pour la légitimité dans les zones de réinstallation. Elle fait valoir que, malgré l’opinion générale selon laquelle les chefs sont reconnus par tous dans les zones rurales, leur légitimité est contestée et, dans certains cas, avec l’usage de la violence. Bien que les chefs soient reconnus comme les leaders légitimes dans certaines zones de réinstallation, cette étude montre que leur autorité est remise en question dans la zone de réinstallation du district d’Insiza, couvrant Mpalawani, Gwamanyanga, Mpopoti et Lambamayi. L’étude met également en évidence la façon dont différentes personnes définissent l’autochtonie, la tradition et l’appartenance dans les zones de réinstallation du Zimbabwe.

KEYWORDS:

• Autochthony
• authority
• chiefs
• Fast Track Land Reform programme (FTLRP)
• modernism

MOTS-CLÉS:

• Autochthonie
• autorité
• chefs
• Programme accéleré de réforme agraire (FTLRP)
• modernisme

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 A full list detailing the interviews and focus group discussions is given at the end of the article, after the reference list.

2 In Zimbabwe, matters relating to traditional leaders fall within the remit of the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

3 Interview no. 1, with Headman Nxumalo, Debshan, took place on 15 February 2019. Chief Jahana (Solomon Khumalo) passed away in February 2016 and was succeeded by his son, Ndumiso Khumalo. Customary authority is based on kinship and is passed on mainly from father to son through a patriarchal system. Accordingly, Ndumiso Khumalo became Chief Jahana following his father Solomon Khumalo’s death.

4 RTM, MDM and SDM are coded names to protect the identity of the interviewees.

5 In line with the code of ethics under which this research was conducted, Chief Jahana was not asked for his political affiliation. He disassociated himself from politics in his response to the causes of the land conflicts in the resettled area.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Edmore Mwandiringana

Edmore Mwandiringana is a PhD candidate at the College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University. His research interests include land and rural politics, peasant (rural and urban) struggles, agrarian sociology and counter hegemony.

Jingzhong Ye

Jingzhong Ye is a professor of Development Studies and Dean at the College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University. His research interests include development intervention and rural transformation, rural society and agrarian change, rural–urban migration and the left-behind population, agrarian sociology and land politics, rural education and social problems.