Settlement schemes in Zambia—a village-level comparison of settlers' views

Abstract

Since Independence, settlement schemes have been a popular tool of agrarian reform in Zambia. Large amounts of formerly European-owned land were available for resettlement, especially in the Southern Province, and many farmers have been moved to new areas, supplied with some amount of land and infrastructure and begun agricultural production, with expectations of improved results. How have resettled farmers reacted to the new structures and patterns of the settlement schemes? In this paper, two settlement schemes in Magoye, Mazabuka District, are compared, based on the responses of settlers to questions about problems they have encountered in the new situations. Inadequate credit, insecurity of tenure and a shortfall in expected social service provision (i.e. schools, clinics, roads) were seen by many settlers as the major problems. For those settlers who sign long-term lease agreements but do not actually purchase the land they farm, land ownership is of overwhelming concern. As discussed in the conclusion, settler participation in both the project design and management would be useful in avoiding or resolving many of these difficulties. Also, a future comparison of settlement schemes with other reform strategies, such as state farms or collectives, might prove informative in a search for solutions to the current problems of Zambian settlers.