Browsing by Author "Gausi, Joseph"

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    Commercialisation of land and ‘Land Grabbing': Implications for Land Rights and livelihoods in Malawi
    (Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape, 2015) Zamchiya, Phillan; Gausi, Joseph
    This study investigates the processes and impact of commercialisation of land in Malawi – specifically the acquisition of huge tracts of communal lands by foreign companies and local elites for sugarcane production in Nkhotakota and Chikwawa districts. The main finding was that ‘land grabbing’ for large-scale commercial agriculture in these two districts negatively affected the livelihoods of the poor communal farmers. The costs to the affected communities outweighed the benefits. In the two districts studied, land grabbing was driven by a weak communal tenure legal framework and the Malawi government’s support for large-scale agro-investments. The key players behind land grabbing were local elites, traditional leaders, foreign companies, international agencies, the coercive apparatus of the state – the police and army – and politicians. The land acquisition processes in both districts were violent and arbitrary, with no compensation offered to the displaced communities. The way in which the land was acquired resulted in the destruction of people’s properties, crops and household incomes, leading to increased food insecurity and poverty among the rural poor. Even though Malawi is a signatory to international land governance frameworks1, there was a disjuncture between policy and practice due to the players not complying with the statutes.
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    Land governance in Malawi: Lessons from large-scale acquisitions
    (Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape, 2015) Gausi, Joseph; Mlaka, Emmanuel
    Over the past decade rural Malawians have witnessed a surge in large-scale land acquisitions for commercial agriculture that threaten their access, control and ownership of customary land. This policy brief presents cases of such ‘land grabs’ related to the expansion of out-grower schemes in Nkhotakota and Chikwawa districts. The main reason why these processes have been controversial is the weak legislation governing land resources in Malawi, which has allowed foreign investors and their local partners to acquire customary land without the consent of local people, who claim the land as theirs. The research on which this policy brief is based shows that the government’s Green Belt Initiative to promote large-scale irrigated farming and its commitments to the G8’s New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition further accelerate land concentration among local elites and expose many to landlessness and food insecurity.
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    Large-scale land deals in Southern Africa voices of the people
    (Institute for Poverty Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), 2015) Hall, Ruth; Gausi, Joseph; Matondi, Prosper; Nhancale, Camilo; Phiri, Dimuna; Zamchiya, Phillan; Muduva, Theodor
    This book presents case studies of large-scale land deals in Southern Africa. It aims to provide an accessible and vivid window into the lived realities and responses of rural people who are affected by such deals. For this reason, we have paid particular attention to what local people say, and have quoted their experiences and responses to the land deals. The book emerges from an action research project implemented by the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, in partnership with non-governmental organisations in five Southern African countries: LandNet in Malawi, Kuwuka Juventude Desenvolvimento e Advocacia Ambiental in Mozambique, Legal Assistance Center in Namibia, Zambia Land Alliance in Zambia and Ruzivo Trust in Zimbabwe. Our joint project, entitled Commercialisation of Land and ‘Land Grabbing’ in Southern Africa: Implications for Land Rights and Livelihoods in Southern Africa,
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    Large-scale land deals in Southern Africa: Voices of the people
    (Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape, 2015) Hall, Ruth; Gausi, Joseph; Matondi, Prosper; Muduva, Theodor; Nhancale, Camilo; Phiri, Dimuna; Zamchiya, Phillan
    This book of case studies addresses situations in which commercial projects are planned on land held by rural communities. These include big farming projects by foreign and local companies, farmers becoming out-growers selling to agribusinesses, and concessions to mining companies. The dramatic growth in big land deals over the past decade is a phenomenon not specific to Southern Africa. It is part of what has been termed a ‘global land rush’ following food price spikes, financial crisis and fuel price volatility (and growing interest in biofuels) in the period 2007-2008. Both domestic and foreign investors are increasingly keen to move into farming and other commercial ventures in rural areas. This has been presented as welcome development but also criticised as constituting a ‘land grab’. Our case studies provide some empirical basis to debate these points of view.
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    Large-scale land deals in Southern Africa: voices of the people
    (Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape, 2015) Hall, Ruth; Gausi, Joseph; Matondi, Prosper; Muduva, Theodor; Nhancale, Camilo; Phiri, Dimuna; Zamchiya, Phillan
    This book presents case studies of large-scale land deals in Southern Africa. It aims to provide an accessible and vivid window into the lived realities and responses of rural people who are affected by such deals. For this reason, it pays particular attention to what local people say, and has quoted their experiences and responses to the land deals. The book emerges from an action research project implemented by the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, in partnership with non-governmental organisations in five Southern African countries: LandNet in Malawi, Kuwuka Juventude Desenvolvimento e Advocacia Ambiental in Mozambique, Legal Assistance Centre in Namibia, Zambia Land Alliance in Zambia and Ruzivo Trust in Zimbabwe. The joint project, entitled Commercialisation of Land and ‘Land Grabbing’ in Southern Africa: Implications for Land Rights and Livelihoods in Southern Africa, involved not only documenting what was happening on the ground but also action research, together with the communities, in negotiations, lobbying and meetings with investors and with government institutions.