Appropriation Of Land For Agro-Fuel Production And Its Effects On Women's Rural Livelihoods And ...

105 Pages·2015·3.66 MB·English

APPROPRIATION OF LAND FOR AGRO-FUEL PRODUCTION AND ITS
EFFECTS ON WOMEN’S RURAL LIVELIHOODS AND ACCESS TO
LAND: A CASE STUDY OF THE ETHANOL PROJECT IN
CHISUMBANJE, ZIMBABWE

BY
Connie NAWAIGO

Supervisor: Professor Julie STEWART

A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Masters in
Women’s Law Degree, Southern and Eastern African Regional Centre for Women’s Law,
University of Zimbabwe
2012
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Abstract

Based on the devastating effects of the large controversial agro-fuel production project of
Green Fuel (Pvt) Ltd (owned by controversial businessman, Billy Rautenbach) in
Chisumbanje, Chipinge, Zimbabwe, this brave work apparently shows how large private
investors and the Government of Zimbabwe are between them threatening the right to life
of its host rural population (of the Ndau tribe) by decimating the livelihoods of its women.
Faced by a general public still reluctant to accept this dubious adventure into large scale
sugarcane monoculture and ethanol processing, these stakeholders trumpet it as an
unmitigated success, despite worrying doubts about a similar, internationally discredited
project in Brazil. Damage-control publicity withholds material facts surrounding the
project, including, its invasion into, occupation and control of extensive tracts of
apparently illegally appropriated Communal Lands, its operations, its questionable labour
practices and decision-making processes involving apparently corrupt individuals, as well
as its real costs to the environment (including, the loss of biodiversity, the risk of
desertification and the poisoning of local rivers) and harm to its immediate vulnerable
communal farming community. Possibly in order to prevent the locals from discovering
the full truth about the project and increasing their growing opposition to it, its owners (the
area’s single largest employer) engage workers from outside the community. Employing a
combination of several methodological approaches (especially the Grounded Theory and
Human Rights Approaches) and guided overall by the unique Women’s Law Approach,
the study establishes how members of the formerly relatively prosperous cotton-growing
community have, in the last 3 years, lost their entire rural livelihoods (i.e., subsistence and
cash crop farming and livestock rearing) to Green Fuel who, apparently with government
connivance, invaded their Communal Lands, ripped up their crops and poisoned their
rivers without notice or compensation, based on undisclosed agreements, paperwork and
decision-making processes, all of which exclude the effective and informed participation
and consent of community members, especially its women. The work is based on extensive
legal and literature research into the topic as well as interviews and discussions with
respondents (a critical sample of affected women and men) and key informants in the
research area, including members of the company, government and NGOs. Deprived of
their rural livelihoods and left by their husbands who are forced to find work elsewhere,
the women find themselves the sole breadwinners of families plunged into debt and plagued
by increasing levels of domestic violence involving growing numbers of children who stay
at home having had to be withdrawn from school. As a result, many such women are forced
to turn to prostitution causing a sharp rise in cases of HIV/AIDS in the area. If this project
is still to succeed, the writer suggests, any review it ought, at the very least, to undergo
must strive (1) to regularise (through litigation) the lack of transparency in the land
appropriation process (including giving displaced locals, especially women, adequate
compensation and access to all the documents on which it is purportedly based) and (2) to
redress all harm so far inflicted against the community.
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Dedication

To my Parents – The Late Winston Mulumba Mawalo and Joy Judith Nawaigo Mawalo; you are my north
star and the reason I hunger and thirst for knowledge. Thank you for being my guardian angels
throughout this life journey for letting me be free spirited and loving me enough to let me thrive as an
individual; to me that is the soul purpose of conception and parenthood.

To the love of my life Tawanda Zhuwarara, you complete the circle of Love. Thank you for being there for
me during this time. Being patient and keeping me company when I was doing my assignments,
encouraging me to be the best that I can be, having those long conversations and giving me the
confidence to research on agro fuels now I have a glimpse of your country which has become my home.
Thank you for walking this journey with me.

To my paw buddies thank you for the constant handshakes and wet licks every day- Butch, Sneakers,
Socks, Badger the newest member of the family – your puppy eyes warm my heart.
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Declaration

I Connie Nawaigo certify that this dissertation is my original work; it is an honest and true effort
of my personal research. I certify that the work has not been presented anywhere else before for
any other dissertation and I have duly acknowledged my sources.

Signed……………………………………
Date………………………………………

This dissertation was submitted for examination with my approval to Professor Julie Stewart my
assigned University Supervisor during the duration of this research.

Signed…………………………………….
Date……………………………………….

Professor Julie Stewart
Director of the Southern and Eastern African Regional Centre for Women’s Law, University of
Zimbabwe

Date…………………………………….Signed………………………………………….

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Acknowledgements

I wish to thank the Almighty God for being Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Elohim, Jehovah El-Shaddai
and Jehovah Shalom. You have been my shepherd (Jehovah Rohi), my guide; you have shown
me mercy, given me grace and kept my family safe through out my studies. My deepest
gratitude and everlasting appreciation goes to the following people who eased this journey along
the way for me.

The Norwegian Embassy for financing this program; you have renewed my faith in the women’s
movement.

Professor Julie Stewart for being true to this mentoring process; this Master’s Programme has
been a journey of learning and unlearning. I vividly remember that first assignment when you
asked us to write about our first interaction with gender. That was the first insight into how
much I needed to unlearn. I want to thank you for your patience and trying to make sense of what
I wanted to put across showing me how to explain clearly continued to trajectories of
inequalities, discrimination and exclusion of women in various spheres.

Dr. Amy Tsanga though feminist theorizing was tough it was a worth while learning experience.
I truly enjoyed social justice it was like taking the clarity pill. I am forever questioning my
agendas and digging deep to find my true self a black African feminist. The visiting lecturers,
Professor Elize Deport, Dr. Celestine Musembi, Professor Sylvia Tamale, Dr. Oliver Philips
thank you for the life changing lectures I now see a new world because of the lenses of
knowledge and empowerment.

My family Brenda Kifuko Suzan, Kenneth, Maureen, Walter, Arnold for being my greatest
supporters; God gave me the perfect family; I don’t know what I would have done without your
support throughout this journey.

To all my respondents thank you for sharing your stories and reminding me that I should share it
with the world. I hope someone can read your story and do something about it. Last but not least
to the people behind the scenes. I can’t name you individually but am truly grateful; without
your support I would not have been able to make the necessary connections to the community
and the company; you know who you are and I am truly grateful for your support and kindness.

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Acronyms and Abbreviations

AU African Union
ARDA Agricultural and Rural Development Authority
ACHPR African Charter on Human and People’s Rights
CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women
CBO Community-based Organisation
ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights
FAO Food Agriculture Organisation
GoZ Government of Zimbabwe
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
NGO Non- Government Organisation(s)
RDCs Rural District Councils
TILCO Tribal Trust Land Development Corporation
ZLHR Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
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List of Zimbabwe Statues cited

Constitution of Zimbabwe
Communal Land Act, Chapter 20:04
Education Act, Chapter 25:04
Rural District Councils Act, Chapter 29:13
Traditional Leaders Act, Chapter 29:17
Water Act, Chapter 20:24
The National Gender Policy

List of International Human Rights Instruments cited

African Charter on Human and People’s Rights 1981
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 1990
African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources 2003
Agenda 21
Beijing Platform of Action 1995
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 1979
Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
(‘African Protocol on Women’s Rights’) 2003
Rio Declaration 1992
SADC Protocol on Gender and Development 2000
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action 1993

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List of Figures

Figure 1: A photograph showing how the tractors uprooted every growing thing (including
trees, the natural bush and crops) in preparation for the industrial ploughing of the
land solely for the purpose of growing sugar cane. ................................................................... 1
Figure 2: “Dust as far as the eye can see.” A photograph of the land after it has been ploughed
by the tractors. .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Figure 3: A photograph of one of the respondents showing maize that she secretly grew
during the middle of the night in a desperate attempt to feed herself and her family.
....................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 4: A photograph of the Green Fuel’s (Pvt) Ltd ethanol plant in Chisumbanje. In order to
operate, the complex requires a lot of water and land, the adverse consequences of
which will impact on the local population, especially women. ........................................... 19
Figure 5: A map of Zimbabwe depicting the research area ..................................................................... 23
Figure 6: A Pie Chart showing the Percentage of Men and Women interviewed. .......................... 27
Figure 7: A Diagram showing the adverse Impacts of the Ethanol Project on the Rural Women.
....................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Figure 8: A Map showing the Chisumbanje Roll-out Plan, highlighting the phases in which land
will be appropriated. ............................................................................................................................ 57

List of Tables

Table A: A Table of the Key Informants who were interviewed .......................................................... 24
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Table of Contents
Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................................... ii
Dedication ............................................................................................................................................................................ iii
Declaration ........................................................................................................................................................................... iv
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................................ v
Acronyms and Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................................... vi
List of Zimbabwe Statues cited ................................................................................................................................... vii
List of International Human Rights Instruments cited ..................................................................................... vii
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................................... viii
List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................................................... viii
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................... ix
“Clarity” ............................................................................................................................................................................... xiii
CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.0 BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH .................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Background of the Research .......................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Objectives of the Research .............................................................................................................................. 6
1.5 Research Assumptions ..................................................................................................................................... 7
1.6 Research Questions ........................................................................................................................................... 8
1.7 Structure of the Dissertation ......................................................................................................................... 9
CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
2.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES AND DATA COLLECTION METHODS .................................... 10
2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 10
2.2 Methodological Approaches ........................................................................................................................ 13
2.2.1 The Women’s Law Approach .......................................................................................................................... 13
2.2.2 The Grounded Theory Approach ................................................................................................................... 15
2.2.3 The Human Rights Approach .......................................................................................................................... 17
2.2.4 The Ruggie Framework ..................................................................................................................................... 19
2.2.5 Actors and Structures ......................................................................................................................................... 20
2.2.6 The Sustainable Livelihood Approach ........................................................................................................ 21
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2.3 Research Design ................................................................................................................................................ 22
2.3.1 Delineation of the Study Areas ....................................................................................................................... 22
2.3.2 Research Sample ................................................................................................................................................... 23
2.4 Data Collection Methods ................................................................................................................................ 24
2.4.1 In-depth Individual Interviews ...................................................................................................................... 24
2.4.2 Focus Group Discussions ................................................................................................................................... 24
2.4.3 Observations ........................................................................................................................................................... 25
2.4.4 Experiential Data ................................................................................................................................................. 25
2.4.5 Pictorial Data ......................................................................................................................................................... 25
2.4.6 Secondary Sources ............................................................................................................................................... 26
2.4.7 Qualitative and Quantitative Data .............................................................................................................. 26
2.5 Limitations of the Study ................................................................................................................................. 27
CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................................................. 29
3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW – ANALYSIS OF PRACTICE, LEGISLATIVE, POLICY AND
CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS – COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL HUMAN
RIGHTS FRAMEWORK ......................................................................................................................... 29
3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 29
3.2 Historical Background of Land Use in Chisumbanje Area ............................................................... 31
3.2.1 The Position of Green Fuel (Pvt) Ltd ........................................................................................................... 32
3.2.2 The Position of the Government: Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Water, Land and
Resettlement on the viability of ARDA Findings .................................................................................... 32
3.2.3 The Position of the Respondent Farmers .................................................................................................. 33
3.3 Policy Framework ............................................................................................................................................ 34
3.3.1 The Domestic Legal Framework ................................................................................................................... 34
3.4 A Comparative Analysis of Ethanol Production in Brazil: Lessons and Experiences ........... 38
3.5 International Human Rights Framework ............................................................................................... 40
3.6 Zimbabwean and South African Case Law on User Rights .............................................................. 42
CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................................................................... 45
4.0 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING LAND ALLOCATION AND APPROPRIATION
..................................................................................................................................................................... 45
4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 45
4.2 The Traditional Leadership .......................................................................................................................... 45
4.3 The Appointment of Chiefs ........................................................................................................................... 46
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