Work

After ‘Siziphile’ Land Occupations: Youth Land Occupiers, Livelihoods and the Complex Realities of a Worker-Peasantry in North-Western Zimbabwe

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: This research tries to reach an understanding of the relationship between youth, land, and livelihoods through an analysis of incidents of land self-provisioning by youth in a former labour reserve. Research was conducted in three villages over a 10-year period following what became known as ‘siziphile’ land occupations. The research contributes to contemporary debates on the youth employment, youth land struggles and livelihoods. This is done through the conceptual understanding of worker-peasantry dynamics. The fact that nearly all land occupants had abandoned the occupied land 10 years after the occupations attests to the complexity of issues around land and livelihoods in a worker-peasantry context. The conclusion emerging from this research is a contestation over the ‘land the economy and economy is land’ narrative, and argues that youth land struggles are not necessarily struggles for livelihoods, particularly among worker-peasants.

Source: Journal of Asian and African Studies

DOI: 10.1177/00219096231168059

Authors: Vusilizwe Thebe, Elizabeth H.L. Shawa-Mangani

Institution: University of Pretoria

Language: English

Topic: African studies and sociopolitical issues

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, No poverty, Zero hunger

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Research Foundation