There
is
huge
diversity
and
no
simple
story.
As
in
other
areas,
there
have
been
challenges
with
financing
and
so
investment
has
been
intermittent,
but
each
farm
is
different,
making
generalisations
difficult.
By
contrast
to
the
A2
farms
of
Matobo,
these
farms
are
much
less
remote,
and
many
are
connected
by
graded
roads,
with
access
to
urban
areas.
Some
indeed
are
right
next
to
expanding
towns
and
have
been
redesignated
as
town
areas
to
accommodate
urban
expansion.
In
Gutu/Masvingo
there
has
been
some
access
to
patronage
financing,
although
the
official
Command
Agriculture
and
other
options
remain
limited.
The
Masvingo
A2
farms
have
much
potential,
but
many
challenges
have
been
faced
over
the
last
25
years.
Variable
investments
on
the
farms
Investment
in
A2
farms
across
our
sample
varies
from
effectively
zero
with
the
farm
abandoned
or
being
‘held’
through
the
presence
of
a
few
workers
to
major
investments
in
capital-intensive
farming
and
new
on-farm
businesses,
financed
through
off-farm
work
via
NGO/UN
connections
(see
cases
below).
Families
in
Masvingo/Gutu
have
a
long
tradition
of
investing
in
education,
often
originally
through
mission
schools
and
on
to
university.
For
this
reason,
many
in
our
sample
in
this
province
are
well-qualified,
having
studied
at
tertiary
level
and
as
a
result
have
had
highly
qualified
jobs
within
Zimbabwe
or
even
abroad.
Case
1:
RK,
Eastdale,
Gutu
I
am
57
years
old,
and
I
was
born
and
bred
in
Gutu.
I
hold
a
BSc
degree
in
Animal
Science,
a
MSc
in
Nutritional
Biosciences
and
an
MBA.
My
first
job
was
as
a
school
teacher
in
the
late
1990s.
I
then
became
an
Executive
Officer
for
council
where
I
worked
until
2002.
Since
then
I
have
worked
for
UN
organisations,
in
Zimbabwe
as
well
as
Kenya
and
Somalia,
currently
as
a
consultant.
I
also
operate
a
sports
bar,
butchery
and
grocery
shop
in
Gutu.
My
wife
is
a
school
teacher.
I
acquired
a
1079
ha
A2
plot
in
2010.
It’s
relatively
large
because
most
of
the
area
is
mountainous.
The
land
was
initially
set
aside
as
a
conservancy.
However,
plans
to
establish
a
conservancy
were
abandoned
because
of
fear
of
wildlife
poaching
as
the
farm
is
located
close
to
communal
areas.
I
have
invested
substantially
on
the
farm.
In
2021,
I
built
a
six-roomed
house
with
flush
toilets
and
solar
system.
In
2022,
I
bought
a
tractor
for
US$9000,
two
disc
ploughs
for
US$1300
and
US$900.
In
2025,
I
drilled
another
72m
deep
borehole
for
US$2600
and
constructed
a
spray
race
for
US$2360.
I
have
also
invested
in
security
fence
and
paddocks.
When
I
got
this
farm,
my
main
focus
was
cattle
farming,
but
of
late,
I
have
since
diversified
into
goats,
sheep
and
crop
farming.
Currently,
I
own
57
cattle,
a
number
of
goats
and
sheep.
I
am
planning
to
quit
my
consultancy
job
in
the
near
future
and
focus
on
farming.
My
heart
is
now
set
on
the
farm.
In
fact,
my
retirement
package
is
on
the
farm.
My
biggest
challenge
of
late
is
uncertainty
around
land
tenure.
Where
can
you
get
the
money
to
pay
for
title
deeds?
The
mortgage
arrangement
through
participating
banks
is
a
risk.
After
all
these
investments,
you
are
then
told
that
the
farm
now
belongs
to
the
Bank
if
you
get
tittle
through
the
mortgage
arrangement.
This
new
title
deeds
initiative
is
one
of
the
single
largest
threats
to
land
reform
programme.
Case
2:
IN,
Shasha
Fountain
IN
is
an
engineer
by
training
who
owns
an
engineering
company
in
Harare.
His
wife
is
a
draughtsperson
in
the
same
company.
They
acquired
an
A2
plot
around
2007.
Since
settlement,
they
have
made
significant
investments
on
the
farm,
which
include
fencing
and
paddocks,
livestock-handling
facilities,
a
dip
tank
on
the
farm
and
for
a
neighbouring
A1
village
(to
avoid
transmission
of
diseases),
a
guesthouse,
two
dams,
and
so
on.
They
also
own
two
tractors
and
ploughs.
Currently,
IN
specialises
in
cattle
farming,
with
a
herd
of
316
beef
cattle.
He
is
based
in
Harare,
but
has
a
qualified
farm
manager
with
a
university
degree
in
Animal
Science.
He
grows
velvet
beans
for
feeding
cattle.
These
cases
are
outliers
but
shows
the
potential
when
finance
is
available.
Especially
in
the
‘highveld’
areas
of
Gutu,
there
are
investments
in
dip
races
as
well
as
other
livestock
infrastructure
for
the
management
of
cattle.
In
these
areas,
cattle
(and
goat)
farming
dominates,
but
most
farms
in
this
region
are
mixed
farms
with
some
livestock,
some
cultivated
outfields
in
the
wet
vlei
areas
that
are
common
here
and
homefields
for
more
intensive
production.
Across
A2
farms,
intensive
irrigated
horticultural
production
is
probably
most
significant.
Investment
focuses
on
irrigation
infrastructure
often
with
small
Chinese
pumps
linked
to
water
storage
(JoJo
tanks)
and
piping
systems
for
horticulture
on
relatively
small
areas,
with
marketing
to
nearby
towns.
Given
the
proximity
of
many
A2
farms
to
ready
markets
in
Masvingo
or
Mupandawana,
horticulture
offers
decent
returns,
as
the
following
case
shows.
Case
3:
JM,
Maggiesrus,
Gutu
I
was
born
in
1986,
and
grew
up
in
Harare.
After
completing
Form
4
in
2002,
I
joined
the
Central
Intelligence
Organisation
where
I
worked
at
the
President’s
Office
until
2017
when
many
of
us
were
fired
after
the
coup.
I
acquired
a
64
ha
A2
plot
in
2007
through
the
office.
At
the
time,
I
was
not
really
interested
in
acquiring
land
as
I
was
still
young
and
enjoying
my
life
in
Harare
where
I
was
driving
a
Toyota
D4D
double-cab
which
I
had
been
allocated
at
work.
But
my
father
pushed
me
to
acquire
land.
Although
I
was
chucked
out
of
the
‘system’,
I
still
received
my
full
salary
for
two
years.
During
this
period,
I
moved
to
the
farm
and
took
up
farming
on
a
fulltime
basis.
I
realised
that
living
in
Harare
without
a
decent
salary
was
going
to
be
a
tall
order.
As
a
member
of
the
Vapostori
church,
I
have
a
very
big
family
–
two
wives
and
ten
children!
For
four
years,
I
took
up
farming
on
a
fulltime
basis.
I
grew
maize
and
engaged
in
horticulture.
During
good
years,
I
would
harvest
up
to
15
tonnes
of
maize.
But
because
of
droughts,
harvests
were
up
and
down.
In
2022,
I
acquired
a
Class
2
(truck)
driving
license
and
worked
as
a
truck
driver
in
South
Africa.
My
aim
was
to
raise
enough
capital
to
invest
in
irrigation
infrastructure.
I
managed
to
buy
a
small
solar-powered
submersible
pump
(1
HP)
for
US$120,
petrol
pump
and
irrigation
pipes.
In
April
2025,
I
decided
to
quit
my
job
in
South
Africa
and
returned
to
the
farm.
There
is
no
better
feeling
than
having
peace
of
mind,
your
own
space
and
praying!
In
South
Africa,
I
was
robbed
three
times.
I
am
now
a
fulltime
farmer.
I
have
started
irrigation
on
a
0.5
ha
plot.
What
is
noticeable
in
our
Masvingo
province
sites
is
the
quality
of
housing
on
the
A2
farms,
certainly
by
comparison
to
Matobo.
While
far
from
universal,
there
has
been
significant
investment
in
good
homes
on
the
farms,
where
owners
imagine
a
life
of
retirement
or
weekend
retreats
while
still
working.
Farms
become
part
of
a
lifestyle
choice
and
leisure
ideal
as
well
as
sites
for
production.
It
is
therefore
important
for
owners
to
invest
in
the
‘mod-cons’
of
solar
systems,
boreholes
for
domestic
water
and
so
on.
A
Starlink
kit
can
provide
high
speed
internet
for
watching
movies
and
football,
and
a
fridge
is
always
good
to
stock
beers
for
a
braai
on
the
farm
with
friends.
Is
farming
for
me?
Gender
and
generational
questions
Not
all
family
members
may
be
convinced
by
these
(often
rather
male)
visions
for
the
farm,
and
many
wives
resisted
the
idea
of
farming
as
part
of
their
family
occupation
for
many
years.
Farming
in
the
communal
areas
had
been
escaped
from
many
years
before
through
education
and
then
professional
and
business
jobs
in
town,
so
why
return
to
remote
rural
living?
There
was
not
a
strong
tradition
of
being
a
commercial
farmer
amongst
the
black
middle
class,
as
this
was
formerly
the
preserves
of
the
whites
on
their
farms.
That
many
of
the
trappings
of
‘white’
(male)
rural
lifestyles
(even
clothing,
with
shorts,
long
socks
and
veld
shoes)
have
been
adopted
by
the
A2
farmers
is
an
interesting
reflection
on
how
times
change
but
also
stand
still.
As
farms
have
developed
and
domestic
cycles
shift,
with
retirement
and
even
old
age
being
prevalent
among
original
A2
settlers,
the
move
back
to
the
farm
of
different
members
of
the
family
has
been
apparent,
as
the
case
below
highlights.
Case
4:
CM,
Gutu
60-year-old
CM
is
a
widow
who
grew
up
in
town.
“I
grew
up
in
town
as
my
father
was
a
policeman”,
she
told
us.
“I
had
no
farming
or
rural
background
prior
to
settlement.
In
fact,
my
husband
asked
me
if
I
was
sure
about
acquiring
land
when
we
applied
for
this
farm”,
she
continued.
CM
holds
a
degree
in
Economics
from
the
University
of
Zimbabwe,
MBL
from
University
of
South
Africa
and
a
PhD
from
DaVinci
Institute
in
South
Africa.
The
M
family
acquired
the
farm
around
2001.
The
farm
is
around
1490
ha
in
size,
consisting
of
two
A2
subdivisions.
One
of
the
A2
subdivisions
(674
ha)
belonged
to
CM’s
late
parents-in-laws,
while
the
remaining
816
ha
belong
to
CM.
CM’s
father-in-law
(now
late)
was
a
senior
politician
and
before
his
death
in
2003.
Just
like
his
father,
CM’s
husband,
who
passed
away
in
2023,
was
also
a
politician.
Besides
being
a
politician,
he
worked
for
the
mining
sector
in
various
capacities.
CM
started
getting
more
involved
on
the
farm
from
2019
when
she
retired
from
her
job
as
a
researcher.
Following
her
husband’s
death,
she
took
over
the
whole
farm
on
a
fulltime
basis,
and
runs
a
highly
diversified
farming
operation,
including
dryland
cropping,
irrigation/horticulture
and
livestock
(beef
cattle,
poultry
(broilers
and
eggs),
sheep).
A
total
of
160
ha
is
under
irrigation
with
centre
pivots
and
drip
irrigation,
while
20
ha
is
used
for
dryland
cropping.
She
owns
163
cattle,
80
sheep
and
20
goats.
She
grows
wheat,
maize,
and
other
high-value
crops
such
as
butternuts,
cabbages
and
so
on.
She
employs
21
permanent
workers,
with
two
managers
who
hold
degrees
in
Animal
Science
and
Agronomy.
Through
their
political
influence
in
the
past,
the
household
benefitted
from
farm
implements
including
tractors,
combine
harvesters
and
so
on
under
the
Farm
Mechanisation
Programme
of
2007/8.
But
now
it
is
different:
“I
am
subsidising
the
farm
operations
with
other
off-farm
incomes,
particularly
house
rentals”,
she
told
us.
Her
biggest
challenge
is
how
to
get
her
two
children
involved
in
farming.
Her
son
works
for
a
battery
company
in
Harare,
and
it’s
been
five
months
since
he
last
received
his
salary
and
she
has
had
to
financially
assist
him.
Despite
all
this,
the
son
does
not
want
to
return
to
the
farm.
By
contrast,
her
daughter
is
interested
in
farming;
she
is
married,
works
at
Mimosa
mine
and
they
have
their
own
plot
in
Zvishavane.
Case
5:
SJM,
Morvas/Irvine,
Gutu
I
was
born
in
1983,
and
I
am
the
last
born
in
a
family
of
five
(2
boys
and
3
girls).
I
hold
a
degree
in
Economics
from
the
University
of
Zimbabwe.
I
live
fulltime
on
the
farm.
My
late
father
was
a
politician
and
former
minister
who
acquired
a
1381
ha
A2
plot
in
the
early
2000s.
My
father
passed
away
in
2016.
Since
his
death,
the
farm
was
lying
idle
until
2023
when
I
decided
to
return
back
to
the
farm.
Everything
was
looted
–
fences,
bricks
and
pipes.
What
made
me
to
return?
In
2008,
after
completing
my
degree,
I
looked
for
work
but
there
was
no
work
in
Zimbabwe
and
inflation
was
a
record
high.
So
I
came
here
without
any
interest
in
farming.
Once
I
got
at
the
farm,
I
decided
to
grow
leafy
vegetables.
I
managed
to
harvest
a
truck
load
of
vegetables
and
sold
it
in
Gutu.
I
managed
to
get
some
good
cash.
That’s
when
I
realised
that
farming
is
profitable,
but
I
was
still
farming
under
subsidies
from
my
father.
In
2010,
I
left
the
farm
and
returned
to
Harare
where
I
then
opened
an
Internet
Café.
However,
looking
at
the
fast-changing
world
–
especially
the
widespread
use
of
cell
phones
–
I
realised
that
it
was
a
dying
business.
I
then
started
another
delivery
business
with
motorbikes,
specialising
in
delivering
agricultural
produce.
However,
in
2022,
I
stopped
the
business
due
to
illness
and
spent
the
whole
year
in
hospital.
In
March
2023,
following
recovery,
I
decided
to
return
to
the
farm.
I
bought
a
small
pump
and
irrigation
pump,
and
set
up
an
‘experimental’
garden
to
determine
what
grows
well
on
our
soils.
I
then
decided
to
grow
‘custom’
chillies
for
Indians.
I
sell
at
US$12
or
$13
per
kg.
My
sister
who
is
a
lecturer
in
the
Tourism
Department
at
a
local
university,
helps
me
to
market
my
produce.
In
sum,
my
route
back
to
the
farm
was
not
straightforward.
Many
farmers
are
educating
their
children
out
of
farming.
They
educate
their
children
through
farming,
but
the
children
won’t
return
to
the
farm
after
completing
their
education.
Persuading
the
younger
generation
to
commit
to
farming
has
been
the
biggest
challenge,
however.
With
the
long
tradition
of
mission
education
and
high
educational
qualifications,
many
children
of
A2
beneficiaries
have
gone
on
to
well
paid
jobs,
often
abroad.
They
are
keen
to
support
their
parents
and
send
funds
for
farm
investments
but
relatively
few
have
a
concrete
plan
to
return.
This
is
why
there
have
been
shifts
in
inheritance
patterns
in
A2
farms,
as
in
A1
areas.
Parents
will
identify
any
child,
male
or
female,
who
is
interested
in
farming
as
a
potential
inheritor
of
the
farm.
Keeping
the
farm
within
the
family
and
continuing
the
efforts
of
the
parents
is
seen
as
central.
It
is
not
always
successful
as
the
numbers
of
abandoned
farms
is
witness
to.
The
limits
of
patronage
Some
‘big
chefs’
chose
their
home
areas
for
farms
to
be
allocated
during
the
land
reform,
and
we
have
a
scattering
of
(now
late)
former
ministers
even
a
former
vice-president
in
our
sample,
along
with
the
usual
array
of
war
veterans
and
others.
However
generational
changes
are
having
an
impact
on
these
areas,
with
changing
connections
and
allegiances.
As
formerly
‘big
chefs’
retire
and
die
their
families
struggle
to
maintain
access
to
patronage
and
the
land.
Some
such
farms
have
been
abandoned,
and
the
government
has
subdivided
them
leaving
the
family
often
the
largest
but
much
diminished
plot
in
the
farm.
For
example,
at
Winterton
Farm
in
Gut,
following
the
death
of
the
original
beneficiary
in
2021,
a
decision
was
made
by
the
Department
of
Lands
to
downsize
and
subdivide
the
farm.
A
total
of
39
A2
farms
were
carved
out
and
created,
ranging
between
10
and
15
hectares.
These
plots
were
then
allocated
to
ZANU-PF
youth,
civil
servants,
security
services
and
so
on.
In
another
farm,
originally
owned
by
a
former
minister,
the
land
was
also
subdivided.
SM’s
widow
was
left
with
472
ha,
while
one
of
his
sons
was
allocated
75ha
within
the
farm.
“I
negotiated
with
the
lands
officers
to
also
get
a
plot.
I
argued
that
off-spring
of
the
original
beneficiary
should
also
benefit”,
the
son
said.
Patronage
only
lasts
as
long
as
it
is
convenient
to
the
party-state,
and
even
someone
who
contributed
at
the
highest
level
during
the
liberation
war
and
after
Independence
is
not
immune
for
changes
in
how
favouritism
is
applied
especially
after
death.
Demand
for
land
from
the
next
generation
of
civil
servants
and
those
connected
to
the
party
continues
and
such
arrangements
are
part
of
the
on-going
accommodation
of
elites
as
land
reform
continues.
In
our
sample,
there
are
two
such
cases
of
subdivided
farms,
discussed
below.
Competing
land
uses:
towns
and
mines
Across
our
sample,
there
are
a
total
of
six
cases
(12%
of
our
Masvingo/Gutu
sample)
where
urban
expansion
has
meant
that
farms
have
or
will
soon
cease
to
exist.
There
are
for
example
two
A2
farms
in
our
sample
in
Victoria
Range,
which
was
bush
on
the
outskirts
of
Masvingo
in
2002
when
allocations
took
place.
Now
these
areas
are
incorporated
within
the
city
and
compulsory
acquisitions
and
redesignations
are
ongoing,
even
though
the
farmers
in
this
area
continue
to
produce
irrigated
horticulture
products
for
town
markets.
A
further
case
where
urban
designation
has
taken
place
exists
along
the
Beitbridge
Road
at
Netridge
farm.
In
Mpandawana
there
are
three
further
cases
in
our
sample
where
the
new
Master
Plan
has
reallocated
land
for
urban
use.
According
to
one
of
the
three
affected
farmers
in
our
sample,
the
Town
Council
had
initially
proposed
to
take
the
farms
without
any
compensation.
However,
the
farmers
threatened
to
contest
the
decision
in
court.
After
several
rounds
of
lobbying
through
various
methods,
it
was
agreed
that
these
farmers
will
receive
compensation
payments,
which
include
three
‘stands’
(medium-density,
low-density
and
industrial
stands)
and
a
5
ha
peri-urban
plot
in
the
area.
The
farmers
are
still
lobbying
in
order
to
be
allowed
to
develop
the
residential
stands
themselves.
As
one
farmer
argued,
“As
farmers,
we
have
the
capacity
to
develop
our
area.
Amongst
ourselves,
we
have
a
prominent
constructor
who
is
based
in
South
Africa,
with
graders
and
other
construction
equipment.”
Despite
the
uncertainty,
one
farmer
is
still
building
a
school
on
his
farm,
betting
on
the
inefficiencies
of
both
the
Ministry
of
Lands
and
Town
Council;
others
are
expecting
hefty
compensation
payments.
Mining
is
also
having
an
impact
on
land
use
and
ownership
patterns.
Many
farms
have
gold
deposits
on
them
and
there
has
been
a
huge
growth
in
small-scale
gold
mining
across
Masvingo
province.
We
have
one
farm
in
our
sample
where
the
owner
of
mixed
race
has
since
ceased
farming
operations
due
to
small-scale
gold
mining,
and
a
gold
processing
plant
has
been
installed
there.
In
order
to
secure
these
from
separate
claims,
A2
farm
owners
must
claim
the
mining
rights.
In
some
cases,
farm
owners
have
developed
mines
themselves;
in
other
cases,
joint
ventures
with
others
have
emerged;
while
in
other
instances
artisanal makorokoza miners
invade
the
farm’s
rivers.
With
the
value
of
land
increasing,
the
challenges
of
defending
it
from
appropriation
by
others,
particularly
those
with
mining
concessions,
becomes
important.
It
was
on
one
farm
in
Masvingo
that
we
heard
of
the
first
(and
only)
successful
attempt
to
secure
a
title
under
the
new
scheme
a
cross
our
full
sample.
The
owners
claimed
that
they
had
paid
around
$250,000
to
gain
the
title,
but
details
remained
a
bit
murky.
The
formal
title
was,
the
joint
owner
claimed,
an
important
protection
for
them
(see
case
below).
Case
6:
AG,
Constance
farm,
Masvingo
My
late
father
acquired
this
625
ha
A2
plot
in
2000.
He
was
a
war
veteran
who
led
farm
invasions
in
Masvingo.
We
have
successfully
managed
to
receive
title
deeds
for
our
farm.
To
get
the
title
deeds,
we
paid
US$250,000
in
cash.
We
managed
to
finance
the
acquisition
of
title
deeds
using
proceeds
from
gold
mining,
borrowed
US$60,000
from
a
gold
buyer
and
sold
one
of
our
houses
in
Harare.
We
have
a
gold
mine
and
harmer
mill
on
our
farm.
When
we
heard
that
A2
farmers
could
now
apply
for
title
deeds,
we
did
not
waste
time
because
of
two
main
reasons.
First,
since
the
death
of
my
father
in
2011,
some
senior
ZANU-PF
politicians
have
been
trying
to
take
the
farm.
Second,
because
of
its
proximity
to
Masvingo
town,
we
were
told
that
the
farm
is
within
the
new
Master
Plan.
That’s
why
we
didn’t
hesitate
to
apply
for
title
deeds
as
we
wanted
to
fend
off
other
interests.
From
2018
to
2022,
we
have
had
a
serious
gold
rush
in
the
farm,
with
many
prospectors
obtaining
claims
within
the
farm
from
the
Ministry
of
Mines.
Fortunately
for
us,
these
mines
were
not
productive
at
all,
and
the
miners
gave
up
their
claims.
At
one
point,
a
senior
politicians
tried
to
grab
the
farm.
So,
I
went
to
see
the
governor
and
threatened
that
if
they
grab
the
farm
I
will
go
on
social
media
and
expose
the
rot
in
the
system.
I
told
him
that
my
father
was
one
of
the
founders
of
Zimbabwe
National
Liberation
War
Veterans
Association,
and
I
will
therefore
tell
the
world
how
badly
they
treat
the
children
of
deceased
heroes.
My
father
was
ZANU-PF
through
and
through,
and
he
integrated
us
into
ZANU-PF
‘systems’
at
a
young
age.
If
there
are
any
threats,
I
go
straight
to
the
higher
offices.
I
know
how
the
‘system’
works.
Currently,
I
am
the
Secretary
General
of
Miners
for
ED
in
Masvingo
province.
Because
of
these
strong
political
connections
to
the
current
leadership,
I
have
the
guts
to
challenge
anyone
who
wants
to
grab
our
land.
Diverse
labour
arrangements
for
farm
management
There
are
many
different
labour
arrangements
for
managing
A2
farms
seen
across
our
sites
in
Masvingo
province.
This
depends
crucially
on
the
family
arrangement,
and
how
labour
is
deployed.
For
example,
we
see
cases
where
a
retired
farmer
is
working
together
with
a
son
(case
10),
across
different
farms
within
the
area;
we
see
women
managing
the
farm
while
husbands
are
in
town
on
work
(case
11);
we
see
multiple
generations
managing
a
farm,
with
different
roles
following
the
death
of
a
husband
(case
12)
and
we
see
cases
where
death
has
resulted
in
conflicts
between
wives
and
other
relatives,
with
the
result
that
there
is
little
happening
on
the
farm
(Case
14)
Case
7:
SC,
Donachad,
Gutu
I
am
83
years
old.
I
live
in
Gutu
Mpandawana
town.
I
can’t
live
permanently
on
the
farm
because
my
wife
is
elderly
and
infirm.
She
is
diabetic,
has
BP,
suffers
from
back-ache
and
can’t
walk.
I
am
a
former
school
headmaster.
I
retired
from
my
teaching
job
in
2012.
I
acquired
a
52
ha
A2
plot
in
2003.
My
biggest
regret
is
that
I
acquired
this
farm
too
late
when
I
was
already
old.
I
also
wished
that
I
had
studied
agriculture
rather
than
teaching!
Given
my
age,
I
have
encouraged
my
children
to
take
over
the
farm.
I
have
encouraged
them
to
buy
cattle
so
that
they
can
have
interest
in
farming.
Of
the
21
cattle
on
the
farm,
some
belong
to
my
sons.
I
have
six
children:
three
boys
and
three
girls.
One
of
my
sons
(born
1980)
who
works
as
a
farm
manager
in
Gweru
is
building
a
big
house
at
the
farm.
In
partnership
with
him,
we
are
also
raising
broilers
at
the
farm.
We
raise
100
birds
per
batch.
When
they
are
ready
for
the
market,
my
son
comes
to
pick
them
and
sell
them
in
Gweru.
We
also
engage
in
horticulture.
We
grow
leafy
vegetables,
especially
covo,
and
sell
in
Gutu
Mpandawana.
We
have
three
permanent
workers
(one
woman
and
two
girls).
Given
the
proximity
of
the
farm
to
Gutu
Mpandawana,
I
am
able
to
manage
workers
during
the
day
and
return
to
town
in
the
evening.
Case
8:
MG,
Endama,
Gutu
MG
works
at
the
Central
Intelligence
Organisation
and
is
based
in
Harare.
He
acquired
an
A2
plot
in
the
early
2000s.
Given
that
he
is
still
at
work,
her
wife
does
the
day-to-day
management
of
the
farm.
They
also
have
a
farm
manager
who
holds
a
degree
in
horticulture.
The
household
has
five
permanent
workers
(one
women
and
four
men),
including
the
farm
manager.
The
women
permanent
worker
works
as
a
storekeeper
at
the
tuckshop
within
the
farm.
Currently,
the
household
owns
over
70
head
of
cattle
and
30
goats.
They
are
also
rearing
broilers,
which
are
sold
in
Harare.
They
raise
between
150
and
200
birds
per
batch.
They
also
engage
in
horticulture.
Case
9:
AG,
Remainder
of
Constance,
Masvingo
I
was
born
in
1994
in
a
family
of
three
–
two
boys
and
one
girl.
My
father
passed
away
in
2011
due
to
cancer.
Following
his
death,
my
mother
took
over
the
farm.
We
engage
in
various
activities
at
the
farm,
including
cattle
ranching,
gold
mining
and
horticulture.
We
now
work
as
a
family.
My
oldest
brother
(born
1987)
who
has
a
degree
in
Human
Resources
Management
from
the
University
of
Zimbabwe
manages
the
farming
and
mining
operations.
My
younger
brother
(born
1997)
with
a
diploma
in
mining
from
School
of
Mines
deals
with
the
processing
of
gold.
He
also
has
a
blasting
licence.
I
hold
a
degree
in
Business
and
Finance
from
Midlands
State
University,
and
I
do
the
administration
and
finance
duties
at
the
mine
and
farm.
We
also
have
an
A1
villagised
plot
in
Mashava,
where
my
mother
now
lives.
We
operate
all
these
activities
as
a
family
business.
When
we
get
something
from
the
mine,
we
give
20%
of
the
proceeds
to
our
mother
and
share
the
rest
equally
amongst
the
three
of
us.
We
all
do
not
have
any
other
jobs
elsewhere.
In
our
Masvingo
sites
it
is
the
challenges
of
managing
labour
combined
with
the
lack
of
finance
that
means
that
many
farms
are
left
idle.
This
becomes
more
of
an
issue
when
husbands
pass
on
as
widows
are
often
unable
to
manage
the
farm
as
well
as
commitments
in
town
homes.
Workers
may
live
at
the
farm
but
supervision
and
coordination
take
time
and
effort
and
low
pay
means
that
there
is
a
rapid
turnover.
Polygamous
households
face
many
challenges
when
husbands
of
many
wives
die.
Who
takes
over
the
farm?
The
eldest
wife
may
be
still
resident,
but
older
male
children
from
other
mothers
may
stake
claims.
This
causes
conflict
and
confusion,
and
very
often
an
impasse
that
results
in
the
farm
become
effectively
abandoned.
In
other
cases,
people
have
managed
to
engineer
subdivisions,
although
these
are
still
relatively
rare,
especially
given
that
children
have
been
reluctant
to
establish
homes
on
the
A2
farms.
Other
relatives
therefore
may
be
invited
onto
the
farm
when
the
original
owners
become
old,
a
relative
can
be
invited
to
establish
a
home
and
separate
field
on
the
farm
and
can
provide
protection
for
a
widow
on
the
husband’s
passing
(see
cases
below).
Case
10:
AZ,
Nuwejaar,
Gutu
I
am
67
years
old.
I
am
originally
from
Zaka.
My
sekuru
(mother’s
brother’s
son)
acquired
this
A2
plot
in
2010.
In
2013,
he
invited
me
to
come
and
live
with
him
at
the
farm.
He
told
me
to
also
build
my
own
homestead
on
the
plot
as
the
plot
is
big.
Given
that
this
place
is
mainly
bush,
he
wanted
more
people
for
security
reasons.
I
have
since
built
my
own
homestead
on
the
plot,
and
opened
up
5
ha
of
arable
land.
My
sekuru
passed
away
in
2019,
but
his
family
still
lives
on
the
farm.
Case
11:
SM,
Northdale,
Gutu
I
am
69
years
old.
I
was
a
school
teacher
by
profession
and
my
husband
was
a
nurse.
But
we
both
took
early
retirement
in
1979
to
focus
on
our
own
businesses.
We
had
shops
and
grinding
mills
in
Nyamande
area
in
Gutu.
We
had
six
children
–
all
girls,
but
one
passed
away.
The
first-born
(1970)
is
an
accountant
in
Harare,
the
second
born
(1972)
is
a
tailor
in
Harare,
the
third-born
(1974)
is
running
her
care
work
(disability)
business
in
the
USA,
the
fourth-born
(1975)
passed
away,
the
fifth-born
(1978)
is
a
school
teacher,
and
the
last-born
(1982)
is
a
pharmacist.
We
acquired
a
272
ha
A2
plot
in
2002.
Sadly,
my
husband
passed
away
in
2015.
While
he
was
still
sick,
he
asked
an
acquaintance
who
shared
a
same
Madyira
totem
with
him
to
stay
at
the
farm
and
help
him
manage
the
farm.
This
relative
has
since
constructed
his
own
homestead
on
the
farm,
and
help
to
manage
the
farm.
He
has
his
own
cattle,
and
also
farm
on
his
own
account
in
exchange
of
supervising
the
workers.
I
live
in
Masvingo
town,
and
visit
the
farm
occasionally.
One
of
my
biggest
challenges
is
to
try
and
convince
my
children
to
take
over
the
farm.
My
children
are
not
interested
in
farming.
All
they
do
is
buy
inputs
for
me
and
send
to
the
farm.
It’s
a
huge
challenge.
Future
prospects?
The
future
of
A2
farms
in
Masvingo
remains
uncertain.
There
is
clearly
significant
agricultural
potential
and,
with
the
right
investments,
some
A2
farmers
have
shown
what
is
possible.
For
most
though,
the
lack
of
available
finance,
the
challenges
of
labour
recruitment
and
retention
and
the
problems
that
arise
around
inheritance
and
generational
transition
are
creating
problems
that
restrict
opportunities.
Beyond
a
few
patronage-based
schemes
such
as
Command
Agriculture,
the
A2
farms
–
like
the
A1
areas
–
have
been
seriously
neglected
by
the
state
over
the
past
25
years.
Limited
investment,
poor
infrastructure,
few
financing
schemes
and
lack
of
effective
land
administration
hamper
the
success
of
medium-scale
farms.
If
the
government
genuinely
expects
the
A2
farms
to
rise
to
the
challenge
of
being
commercial
farms
supporting
the
agricultural
economy,
then
this
will
have
to
change.
This
post
was
written
by Ian
Scoones and Tapiwa
Chatikobo and
first
appeared
on Zimbabweland.
Post
published
in:
Agriculture