PROBLEMS OF LAND-USE PLANNING IN THE COMMUNAL AREAS OF ZIMBABWE - A CASE-STUDY OF GUTU DISTRICT, MASVINGO PROVINCE

The large human and livestock populations in relation to the land area, coupled with the 'user-right' land tenure system, makes the land use planning process in the communal lands of Zimbabwe a special case. Problems are associated with the historical and legislative background of the land issue in Zimbabwe. The initial problems involved boundary disputes between kraalheads, the balance of power between the traditional leadership and local government leaders and inadequate data collection. Within the planning process the problems hinged on reconciling an 'ideal plan' with one acceptable to the community. It also depended on the community appreciating that their land comprised a finite resource. Therefore a compromise land reorganization plan was produced in which the land use planning principles remained in the background as a referral point. This plan gives the community a chance to revitalize their communal land resources, something that was only reflected in the principles of the 1951 Native Land Husbandry Act. © 1990.