South Africa’s land report: Zimbabwe lessons?

September 2019
Zimbabweland (Ian Scoones)

An analysis of the July South African report on land and agriculture which documents the sorry tale of land reform since 1994. Says action on land reform is long overdue. Makes sensible recommendations on expropriation. Suggests a policy shift towards equity as a goal of land reform and a shift towards redistribution. Makes the case for substantial (at least half) allocations to women and a focus on urban/peri-urban land. Adding to redistribution, restitution and land tenure reform, it suggests a fourth pillar – land administration. Lessons from Zimbabwe include moving from land reform to wider agrarian reform, the need to provide post-settlement support and to adopt a flexible approach. Civil society will need to be ready to apply pressure to realise the vision of the report.