8. The Politics of “Land Grabs” and Development Contradictions in Zimbabwe: The Case of the Chisumbanje Ethanol Project

This chapter critically examines the Chisumbanje ethanol mega-project in south-eastern Zimbabwe in light of the emergent, popular discourse on “land grabs.” The Chisumbanje project is a public–private partnership between the Government of Zimbabwe through the parastatal Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) and the Zimbabwe Bio-Energy Company. The project began in 2009 when the ARDA’s estates were converted to sugarcane production and processing for ethanol and biodiesel. Media and academics characterize the Chisumbanje project as the epitome of a “land grab.” We situate the project within the wider political economy of Zimbabwe by discussing the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) introduced in 2000 which forcefully displaced 4,500 white farmers for the benefit of 200,000 black farmers. We evaluate the social, economic, and political impacts of this US$300 million investment involving thousands, potentially tens of thousands, of hectares. Based on field research between 2013 and 2015, which included a survey of 180 smallholder farmers, 5 focus group discussions, and 4 key informant interviews, we delve into the complexities of land and governance to provide a more nuanced understanding of the Chisumbanje Ethanol project as a putative “international land grab.”