Briefing Paper

National and International Actors in the Orchestration of Large-scale Land Deals in Zimbabwe: What’s in it for Smallholder Farmers?

“Little research has been done on the possible benefits of large-scale land deals for local communities. This work builds on a recent study that seeks to
outline the potential benefits of land deals in terms of infrastructural, human and social development through increased employment and benefits flowing directly into recipient communities. While narrowing the lacuna in literature which is dominated by work on the negative aspects of land deals, this study also provides an interesting dimension to land deals which is peculiar to Zimbabwe. This study questions the identity and organisation of the various actors involved in these deals and how they impact local communities. It focuses on both the positive and negative aspects of large-scale land deals in Zimbabwe.”