How do young people get land in post-land reform Zimbabwe?

Gaining access to land remains a major challenge for young people in post-land reform Zimbabwe. While demand is high, formal pathways to land are limited, leading youth to rely on informal, fragmented methods. This blog presents PLAAS’ recent research in Zimbabwe on how young people are striving to get hold of land. The most common route is subdivision of parental land, as older land reform beneficiaries reduce their farming scale due to age, labor shortages, or lack of resources. Both sons and daughters are increasingly receiving land this way, signaling a shift from traditional patrilineal inheritance. Other routes include allocations from village headmen, renting or leasing land, and occasionally, inheritance. Rental arrangements often involve sharecropping, labor exchange, or small cash payments. Most youth access small plots, often scattered and significantly smaller than the standard 5-hectare plots. The research finds that land access is shaped by broader shifts: aging original settlers, constrained farming inputs, and climate change pushing farmers toward intensive, small-scale agriculture. While some youth return to communal areas in search of land, access often involves navigating family tensions, shifting norms, and reworked institutions. Ultimately, persistence, creativity, and negotiation within evolving social systems are key for young people striving to farm.