Customary Land Tenure, Mining, and the Development Question: Insights From a Transitional State

This study explores the interplay between mining activities, communal land tenure, and their collective impact on development in the Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) district, Zimbabwe. With a specific focus on households affected by gold and black granite mining, the research investigates the diverse landscape of both large-scale (formal) and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM). The primary emphasis is on state-promoted and capitalized large-scale mining, aligning with Zimbabwe's neoliberal development agenda. UMP's agroecological diversity, featuring hilly terrains and varied wet and dry areas, provides a contextual backdrop for understanding the nuanced consequences of mining practices on local communities. Employing a durée perspective, the study reveals the evolution of land practices in contrast to static mining and tenure laws, often rooted in colonial legacies. The research methodology integrates observations and insights from existing studies, employing a comprehensive desk research approach. This involves an extensive literature search, encompassing academic and non-academic documents, such as unpublished papers, journal articles, reports, and case studies. The study contributes valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between customary land tenure, mining, and development within the context of a transitional state in rural Zimbabwe.