CGSpaceA Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs
    View Item 
    •   CGSpace Home
    • International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
    • IWMI Conference Chapters or Papers
    • View Item
       
    • CGSpace Home
    • International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
    • IWMI Conference Chapters or Papers
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Traditional authority, customary law and accountability within CAMPFIRE in Zimbabwe

    Thumbnail
    Authors
    Mapedza, Everisto
    Date Issued
    2008
    Language
    en
    Type
    Conference Paper
    Accessibility
    Limited Access
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Share
    
    Citation
    Mapedza, Everisto. 2008. Traditional authority, customary law and accountability within CAMPFIRE in Zimbabwe. Paper presented at the Twelfth Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property (IASC), University of Gloucestershire, UK, 14-18 July 2008. 20p.
    Permanent link to cite or share this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38548
    Abstract/Description
    Colonial governments 'invented' tradition in order to serve their interests in Africa. This made traditional institutions pivotal in the resilience and perpetuation of colonial rule. In Zimbabwe, the postcolonial state is in the process of 're-inventing' its subordinate version of traditional authority, which has enhanced its support base at the time its legitimacy is increasingly being questioned. This paper looks at how the year 2000 re configuration of traditional leadership impacted on customary law and democratic governance in rural Zimbabwe. It particularly explores how this is reflected within the sphere of natural resource management. It will demonstrate how the reconfiguration of traditional authority in Zimbabwe has undermined the accountability and legitimacy of traditional authorities in the north-western parts of Zimbabwe. This is being done through selectively appealing to the past in order to legitimate current practices - despite the historical contradictions. The Zimbabwean context further demonstrates that this legitimating process is based on two grounds. Firstly, the state wants the rural citizens to accept their oppressive version of traditional authorities. Their legitimacy is said to be unquestionable since it is based on an 'established tradition.' Secondly, the oppressive state policies are getting de jure recognition through passing of legislation - mainly the Traditional Leaders Act of 1998. This attribute is peculiar to the Zimbabwean state's determination to hide the oppressive state policies beneath the veneer of 'acting within the law' albeit it's arbitrary implementation. Chiefs are now largely viewed as localized state despots who are helping reproduce the postcolonial state whilst undermining their local credibility.
    Notes
    Paper presented at the Twelfth Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property (IASC), University of Gloucestershire, UK, 14-18 July 2008
    AGROVOC Keywords
    natural resources management; political aspects; legislation; environmental management
    Countries
    Zimbabwe
    Regions
    Southern Africa; Eastern Africa
    Collections
    • IWMI Conference Chapters or Papers [1045]

    AboutPrivacy StatementSend Feedback
     

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Browse

    All of CGSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesBy AGROVOC keywordBy ILRI subjectBy RegionBy CountryBy SubregionBy River basinBy Output typeBy CIP subjectBy CGIAR System subjectBy Alliance Bioversity–CIAT subjectThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesBy AGROVOC keywordBy ILRI subjectBy RegionBy CountryBy SubregionBy River basinBy Output typeBy CIP subjectBy CGIAR System subjectBy Alliance Bioversity–CIAT subject

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    AboutPrivacy StatementSend Feedback