The State of Communal Farmers’ Livelihoods and Vulnerability in Rural Zimbabwe after the Fast Track Land Reform Program (FTLRP): A Case Study of the Hurungwe District

Land ownership is a recognised human right. Being in possession of land can be the foundation for livelihood strategies. Land ownership also has a relationship with vulnerability patterns especially among those communities that depend on farming for their survival. Using a mixed methods approach, this study interrogated the Zimbabwe Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) and its impact on rural livelihoods and vulnerability patterns before and after the year 2000. The sustainable livelihoods framework was employed as a theoretical framework in unpacking the study. The study findings pointed to asset ownership structure as important in determining vulnerability and livelihoods among communal farmers. Those endowed with more assets significantly produced more from their land based activities. The findings also showed that the challenges of the Zimbabwean economy invariably impacted on vulnerability and livelihood patterns. Apparently, any land reform without the necessary support (through finance, relevant assets and the necessary infrastructure) was generally not effective in reducing poverty. Land reform consequently must be complemented by programmes that enabled land beneficiaries to access financing and support in the form of assets that assisted them to utilise their land more productively. It was also noted that due to constrained livelihoods, some beneficiaries ended up resorting to relying on the natural resources through cutting down of trees for resale and engaging in unregulated mining activities. Climate change was a reality as most respondents had a perception that droughts were becoming more frequent and this affected their livelihoods. Any land reform programme hence must be comprehensive in order to have any significant impact on communal farmers’ livelihoods patterns.