Zimbabwe: A disastrous experiment

The research paper examines the failure of Zimbabwe's land redistribution programme and 'command agriculture' policies, noting that these actions destroyed the country's most productive sector. It highlights a transition from being a net food exporter before 1990 to importing nearly 22% of total food demand by 2019, while extreme poverty rose from 10% in 2000 to 37% in 2020.

• Zimbabwe's land redistribution programme, spanning from 1992 to 2010, resulted in the destruction of the nation's most productive sector and demonstrates the dangers of land expropriation without due process.
• Agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe declined sharply after 1990; while the country exported 10% more food than it consumed between 1960 and 1990, it has never returned to those production levels. By 2010, yields per hectare had fallen below the levels recorded in 1965.
• The eviction of over 4,000 white commercial farmers in the early 2000s and the subsequent implementation of centralised 'command agriculture' further damaged the sector. By 2020, fewer than 300 white commercial farmers remained, with much of the acquired land transferred to party officials.
• The failure of agricultural reforms contributed to a significant increase in extreme poverty and food insecurity; the percentage of Zimbabweans living in extreme poverty (less than US$1.90 daily) rose from 10% in 2000 to 37% in 2020, and the country imported nearly 22% of its food demand by 2019.
• General structural market failures across Africa, specifically the inability of farmers to access credit and finance for critical inputs like seed and fertiliser, contribute to lower productivity.

APA

le Roux, A., & Cilliers, J. (2026). Zimbabwe: A disastrous experiment. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=06-zimbabwe-disastrous-experiment

Chicago

le Roux, Alize, and Jakkie Cilliers. Zimbabwe: A disastrous experiment. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=06-zimbabwe-disastrous-experiment.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=le Roux |first1=Alize |last2=Cilliers |first2=Jakkie |title=Zimbabwe: A disastrous experiment |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=21 April 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=06-zimbabwe-disastrous-experiment |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{leroux2026zimbabwe, author = {le Roux, Alize and Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{Zimbabwe: A disastrous experiment}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=06-zimbabwe-disastrous-experiment}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }