Livelihood dynamics in planned and spontaneous resettlement in Zimbabwe: Converging and Vulnerable

SummaryThis paper compares the livelihood dynamics of planned and spontaneously resettled households in Hurungwe District, Zimbabwe, during 1980–2000. Initially, the state sponsored households significantly improved their condition but as the state withdrew support, they became vulnerable. The structure and outcomes of their livelihoods increasingly resemble those of spontaneous settlers on communal lands. The conclusions indicate the need for planners to use livelihood frameworks rather than small farm models and for policy to recognize rural settlement from a multiple actor perspective.