Charms, potions and spirits involved in the management of livestock in Zimbabwe During my long-term fieldwork in Matobo district there was constant discussion of supernatural beliefs concerning livestock. I have always been dismissive of these beliefs, thinking that they were …

Charms, potions and spirits involved in the management of livestock in Zimbabwe by Tapiwa Chatikobo @plaasuwc.bsky.social zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2026/03/02/c...

ICARRD+20 kicks off this week: can the challenge of redistributive land reform be addressed? The International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD +20) starts this week in Cartagena in Colombia, hosted by the Colombian government and technically supported by the UN …

ICARRD+20 kicks off this week: can the challenge of redistributive land reform be addressed? #icarrd20 @plaasuwc.bsky.social @ids.ac.uk
zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2026/02/23/i...

Livestock, climate change and land reform in southern Africa How do livestock producers respond to climate change in land reform areas in southern Africa? A recent report from the Institute of Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of t…

Livestock, climate change and land reform in southern Africa zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2026/02/16/l... @plaasuwc.bsky.social @iyrp2026.bsky.social

📢 Putting land redistribution back on the agenda:
As we head to #ICARRD+20, Prof @ianscoones.bsky.social reflects on experiences from very different settings to inform future policies.

🗓️ Wednesday, 11 February 2026
🕐 13:00-14:00 CAT
📍 At PLAAS or online shorturl.at/rDJ1N
@uwconline.bsky.social

Rethinking with uncertainty: two new articles Two open access articles have just come out that take the theme of ‘uncertainty’ and explore how it encourages some fundamental rethinking. First, ‘development’ as conventio…

Rethinking with uncertainty: two new open access articles. Short essays on the political and methodological implications of embracing uncertainty @peasantjournal.bsky.social @ids.ac.uk zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2026/02/09/r...

Pastoralists as inspiration in an age of uncertainty You only have to look at the news each day to realise that we are living in an age of uncertainty. Whether it’s imposing tariffs, interfering in sovereign countries or threatening to annex ar…

Pastoralists as inspiration in an age of uncertainty. A new long-read article from @theconversation.com @ids.ac.uk @iyrp2026.bsky.social zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2026/02/02/p...

It’s time to think like pastoralists Pastoralists are often misunderstood. There is a lot to learn from them and their low impact livestock production argues Prof Ian Scoones in this UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralist…

Listen in for an interview with Prof Ian Scoones on the importance of pastoralists and they're approaches to life!
geofftansey.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/i...

Controversial land reform in Zimbabwe ‘helping small farmers over climate change’ Exclusive: 25 years after the programme – widely seen as being characterised by violence and economic chaos – was introduced, new research finds that it has helped smallholder farmers become more resilient to the climate crisis

IDS researcher Prof Ian Scoones shares findings from research on Zimbabwe’s controversial land reform programme, which suggests that it has helped smallholder farmers adapt to #ClimateChange.

👇 via @the-independent.com #Zimbabwe #LandReform
https://the-independent.pulse.ly/s7zhrjnlkm

Changes in livelihood success: comparing communal areas and smallholder land reform areas in Zimbabwe As discussed in the previous blog, we carried out repeat ‘success rankings’ in three of our communal area sites, which are all nearby our A1 smallholder land reform sites, where we have undertaken …

Changes in livelihood success: comparing communal areas and smallholder land reform areas in Zimbabwe. Has land reform made a difference? zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/c...

Livelihood opportunities in Zimbabwe’s communal areas: too poor to succeed? As part of our analysis of the story of land reform over 25 years, we have also been looking at communal areas that are nearby our A1 sites. These are where many people who invaded the farms and we…

Livelihood opportunities in Zimbabwe’s communal areas: too poor to succeed? zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2026/01/19/l...

The future of ‘development’ – and IDS@60 This year is the 60th anniversary of the Institute of Development Studies based at the University of Sussex. IDS has been an independent institute linked to the university since June 1966, so the b…

The future of 'development' – and IDS@60 zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/t...

In this age of global uncertainty, where in the world can we look for guidance? The loss of the central role of people in today’s complex global systems is the greatest danger of all. In Kenya and Amdo Tibet, it can be rediscovered.

The loss of the central role of people in today’s complex global systems is the greatest danger of all. In Kenya and Amdo Tibet, it can be rediscovered.

In this age of global uncertainty, where in the world can we look for guidance? The loss of the central role of people in today’s complex global systems is the greatest danger of all. In Kenya and Amdo Tibet, it can be rediscovered.

The loss of the central role of people in today's complex global systems is the greatest danger of all.

In Kenya and Amdo Tibet, it can be rediscovered.

Welcome to the international year of rangelands and pastoralists, 2026 This year is the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. This is an important moment to celebrate the role of pastoralists across the world, recognising their unique contr…

Welcome to the international year of rangelands and pastoralists, 2026. fivd pastoral principles to guide the future zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/w...

Zimbabweland’s festive top 20: a review of the year It has been a busy year with our research on 25 years after land reform in Zimbabwe. Biographical interviews have been undertaken with around 100 people from our long-term sample, exploring changes…

Zimbabweland's festive top 20: a review of the year zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/z...

In this age of global uncertainty, where in the world can we look for guidance? The loss of the central role of people in today’s complex global systems is the greatest danger of all. In Kenya and Amdo Tibet, it can be rediscovered.

How do we navigate global uncertainty from financial shocks to climate crises?

IDS Fellow @ianscoones.bsky.social shares lessons from pastoral systems for resilience & adaptability in this blog in the Conversation👇

https://theconversation.pulse.ly/xttnsqmvyj

Two new booklets: young people and small towns in Zimbabwe’s land reform areas To complement this ongoing blog and the various academic outputs we produce from the research, we always try and produce some colour booklets on themes emerging from our research for wide sharing. …

Two new booklets: young people and small towns in Zimbabwe's land reform areas zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2025/12/15/n...

Joint ventures in land reform areas: a solution to failing medium-scale farms in Zimbabwe? As noted in the previous blog, there are a number of new land arrangements emerging on A2 farms under the (very) broad label of ‘joint ventures’. Some 2500 joint ventures have been formally registe…

Joint ventures in land reform areas: a solution to failing medium-scale farms in Zimbabwe? zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/j...

New forms of commercial agriculture on A2 land reform farms in Mvurwi, Zimbabwe The high potential areas of Mvurwi in Mazowe district should be the focus for significant commercial agricultural success on the A2 farms as envisaged in the government’s land reform strategy. Ther…

New forms of commercial agriculture on A2 land reform farms in Mvurwi, Zimbabwe zimbabweland.wordpress.com/2025/12/01/5...

New types of ranching on medium-scale land reform farms in Matobo, Zimbabwe

The A2 farms in Matobo are in some of the most remote parts of the district. These are predominantly livestock farming areas, with cattle being the dominant livestock type. Getting to these areas in the rainy season…

Zimbabwe’s medium-scale farms: challenges and opportunities in A2 farms

Zimbabwe’s new agrarian structure arose out of a political deal during the land reform of 2000 when land was allocated to both smallholders (A1 areas) and medium-scale farms (A2). A2 farms were created in order to accommodate…

Delighted that we were lucky to be awarded an @erc.europa.eu synergy grant. Looking forward to the exciting journey with a fantastic team, starting next year @ids.ac.uk

Climate change and land: Why COP30 must go beyond false solutions? - Institute of Development Studies climate finance that’s needed for real solutions. climate finance that’s needed for real solutions at COP30

The relationships between climate change and land issues are complex. Ahead of #COP30, IDS fellow Ian Scoones argues we must confront who controls land and support approaches that restore ecosystems and strengthen local communities. 👇

https://ids.pulse.ly/xin22cc1wn

Is the end of sanctions on Zimbabwe near?

The publication of a US congressional bill to guide foreign policy on September 11th has offered hope to Zimbabweans that the draconian ZDERA (the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, 2001) legislation may be repealed. This could see the end of…

South African confusions over land reform

As followers of this blog will know, I have recently been in South Africa where debates about land reform provoke strong reactions, particular when Zimbabwe is mentioned. At the end of August, President Ramaphosa offered some remarks at the Zimbabwe…

Why land redistribution must be central to human flourishing in an era of extreme inequality

Land redistribution is not the flavour of the month. Many see it as impossible, an idealistic position more suited to the 1950s and 60s. Yet in an era of extreme inequality, when land concentration…

Rethinking disaster risk reduction

Today is the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has recently published the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025, which estimates that the true cost of disasters is nearly $2.3 trillion.…

The politics of land: introducing an important new collection

Land is central to contemporary debates about politics as anyone in Zimbabwe knows well. Land sustains the livelihoods of millions through farming, livestock keeping, hunting and collecting. Such livelihoods are intimately bound up with…

Fascinating discussion with NBN podcast on Navigating Uncertainty book @politybooks.bsky.social @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social

La política de la tierra | Transnational Institute La tierra es fundamental para los debates contemporáneos sobre política. La tierra sostiene los medios de subsistencia de millones de personas a través de la agricultura, la ganadería, la caza y la re...

La política de la tierra www.tni.org/es/art%C3%AD...