Analysis of the compatibility of customary land tenure with food security: a case of Binga District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study focused on the analysis of the compatibility of customary land tenure with food security in Binga District, in the northwest of Zimbabwe. The practices in customary land tenure that lead to food insecurity in Binga were analysed. Knowledge on the links between customary land tenure and food security is scanty. The mixed methods approach was used to analyse the relationship between customary land tenure and food security. The findings confirm that customary land tenure is not compatible with food security in a number of ways. However, the problems in customary land tenure do not emanate from traditional customs; rather, they are a creation of both the colonial and the current government. The study recommends that the government, alongside other stakeholders, make an honest and genuine effort to improve customary land tenure if food security is to be attained in Binga.

Die studie het gefokus op die ontleding van die versoenbaarheid van gebruiklike grondbesit met voedselsekerheid in Bingadistrik, in die noordweste van Zimbabwe. Die praktyke in gebruiklike grondbesit wat tot voedselonsekerheid in Binga gelei het, is ontleed. Kennis van die skakels tussen gebruiklike grondbesit en voedselsekerheid is gebrekkig. Die gemengdemetode-benadering is gebruik om die verwantskap tussen gebruiklike grondbesit en voedselsekerheid te ontleed. Die bevindings bevestig dat gebruiklike grondbesit op verskeie maniere nie versoenbaar is met voedselsekerheid nie. Die probleme in gebruiklike grondbesit spruit egter nie uit tradisionele gebruike nie; dit is eerder ’n skepping van sowel die koloniale as huidige regering. Die studie beveel aan dat die regering, tesame met ander belanghebbendes, ’n eerlike en werklike poging aanwend om gebruiklike grondbesit te verbeter ten einde voedselsekerheid in Binga te bereik.

Ucwaningo lugxile ekuhlaziyeni okuhambisana nobunikazi bomhlaba ngokwesiko nokutholakala kokudla kuyisifunda saseBinga, enyakatho-ntshonalanga yeZimbabwe. Kuhlaziywe imikhuba yobunikazi bomhlaba oholela ekutheni kube nokungabibikho kokudla eBinga. Ulwazi mayelana nokuxhumana phakathi kobunikazi bomhlaba ngokwesintu kanye nokuvikeleka kokudla luncane. Kusetshenziswe izindlela ezixubile ukuhlaziya ubudlelwano phakathi kobunikazi bomhlaba ngokwesintu kanye nokuvikeleka kokudla. Okutholakele kuqinisekisa ukuthi ubunikazi bomhlaba ngokwesintu abuhambisani nokuvikeleka kokudla ngezindlela eziningi. Nokho, izinkinga zobunikazi bomhlaba wesintu azisuki emasikweni esintu; kunalokho, ziyindalo yakho kokubili umbuso wamakholoni kanye nohulumeni wamanje. Lolu cwaningo luncoma ukuthi uHulumeni nabanye abathintekayo benze imizamo eqotho neyangempela yokuthuthukisa ubunikazi bomhlaba nokwesintu uma kuwukuthi kuzotholakala ukudla eBinga.