Where Zimbabwe got it wrong - lessons for South Africa : a comparative analysis of the politics of land reform in Zimbabwe and South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is a comparative study of the politics of land reform in Zimbabwe and SouthAfrica. Robert Cox's critical theory is the theoretical framework used in carrying out thestudy. The particular focus of this thesis falls on the similarities and differences that exist inthe two countries regarding the politics of land reform. Both countries share strikingsimilarities, some of which include: In both countries, soon after the advent of democracythe majority of blacks lived in poor marginal areas where the land was/is less productivethan the rich and fertile arable land owned by whites. In both countries, the minoritywhites are richer than the majority native black people; in both countries, landredistribution was a key national goal of the incoming governments immediately afterindependence; in both countries, land redress did not however happen as immediately asthe incoming governments had promised. In Zimbabwe, the process only began some 20years after independence while in South Africa, it is now 15years since 1994 when the ANCcame into power and still, the racially skewed agricultural land ownership patterns are yetto be conclusively addressed.Some of the differences discussed in the study include; the types of governments in the twocountries; land reform policies of the two countries; the type of societies as well as therelationship between Zimbabwe's war veterans to the ZANU PF government.Steps are already underway to redress the distorted land ownership patterns in SouthAfrica but is the process happening quick enough to prevent South Africa from facing theproblems associated with inequitable land ownership patterns such as those that werefaced by Zimbabwe? Where and how did Zimbabwe get her land redistribution processwrong? What lessons can South Africa learn from the case of Zimbabwe? Chapter two andthree of the thesis will provide a general overview of the politics of land in the twocountries, while chapter four will show the similarities and differences that exist. Chapterfive will conclude by showing the lessons that South Africa can learn from Zimbabwe whilealso suggesting areas for further study.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University