Zimbabwe land reform leaves women farmers far behind

In response to a question during a news interview given in 2000, in which the former Vice President Msika was asked why women did not have land rights, he said: “Because I would have my head cut off if I gave women land… men would turn against this government”. He added that giving wives land or even granting joint titles would “destroy the family”, the study reported.

“This is an explicit admission by the government that if there is a man and a woman: a man is entitled to land,” writes Dr Pasura, adding: “Women can only get land in their own right in a world devoid of men.”

Moreover, the report suggests that the male bias in Zimbabwean society and reflected in the Vice President’s statement stems from colonial times where “changes in social structure … eroded women’s rights to land along with the erosion of women’s status in general”. Whereas in pre-colonial times, women had access to land, the study reported.

The researcher analysed documents such as government papers on land reform and reports from women’s groups. Due to the political instability of the country, the author has not been able to conduct first-hand interviews, the study reported.

Customs discriminate against women

According to the study, the Zimbabwean constitution has outlawed discrimination on the basis of gender. However, this does not include rules relating to land allocation. Zimbabwe has a “plural legal system”, in other words, state and customary laws co-exist, the study reported. In the report, customary law refers to African traditions which have become an intrinsic part of the accepted and expected conduct in a community.

Many studies, such as the United Nations Development Programme 2002 Zimbabwe Land Reform and Resettlement report, have cited that customary law has blocked Zimbabwean women from accessing land.

However, Dr. Pasura’s study finds that customary law is used to refer to both “the constructed versions of African practices codified in statutes and to customary practices in daily lives”. Therefore it is important to distinguish between the two. He argues that it is not customary law per se but rather customary practices that discriminate against women in land issues. Although the state is a guardian for customary law, customary practices take precedence in rural areas. Therefore, “customary practices on the ground ultimately determine which persons, gender and generation will inherit resources in the country”.

The report argues that customary law should not be outlawed rather, there needs to be huge change in attitudes and institutions to ensure the rights of women to access land.
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The situation for women in Zimbabwe, Africa over decades has not improved on many levels. Land rights issues are only part of a continuing problem. Following years of political unrest and violence, many women in Zimbabwe have survived from shattered lives of struggle, cultural and domestic violence, lack of opportunity and leadership opportunities, discrimination and non-equality. Zimbabwe musician, Dudu Manhenga, explains the situation up-close for many women who still live today inside the country. This March 2009, YouTube, 5:19 min video has been produced by Why Women Count and Media for Development Trust Zimbabwe.

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For more information on this topic go to:

• “FACTSHEET: Women Farmers & Food Security, “  – The Hunger Project, February 2009

• “Summit mulls Zimbabwe land reform case,” – AFP – Agence France-Presse, August 2010

• “International Property Rights Index: 2010,” – Victoria Strokova for Property Rights Alliance and IPRI Parters, January 2010

• “Land Reform and Property Rights in Zimbabwe,” – Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, April 2010

• “Policy Brief – Gender and Land Rights, Understanding Complexities, Adjusting Policies,” – FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, March 2010

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Global women in development and human rights reporter, Tania Ghosh, specializes in reports covering vital issues on women’s rights, poverty and women’s empowerment as they intersect with the tenants of the UN Millennium Development Goals. This article has been graciously brought to you through an ongoing Women News Network – WNN partnership with Panos London – Illuminating Voices.
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©2010 Women News Network – WNN

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