The Application of International Resettlement Policy in African Villagization Projects

It is now widely agreed that anything less than consciously planned and implemented development for resettled people will leave them worse off. Compensation is not up to the task of restorative, let alone just, resettlement. But what happens when, as in the case of smaller scale, but widely occurring, projects involving resettlement, the "development" projects do not give rise to significant new resources, thereby effectively making resettlement with development impossible? Smaller scale villagization type projects with an agricultural/land reform/political reorganization agenda are widespread in Africa. They have been/are imposed in recurring fashion on rural areas by succeeding governments, typically involving short-range resettlement, limited capital investment and assistance, and loss of local autonomy in relation to land use. The paper provides case studies from South Africa and Zimbabwe. It will be shown how these ongoing interventions and responses have directed the developmental, social, and resettlement dynamic in the resulting settlements-as well as raising crucial implications for whether, and how, we are best to apply international resettlement policy in such situations.