Power and hunger : the state, farmers, and the Grain Marketing Board in Zimbabwe, c. 1980-2017

Date
2024-03
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis uses the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) as lens to explore the anthropogenic nature of hunger in Zimbabwe, from independence in 1980 until 2017, when Robert Mugabe’s regime ended. It explores how key political events and changing economic policies impacted on the GMB. It argues that the GMB, as a parastatal, was used by the government to achieve certain political, personal, and economic goals. Using archival data, newspapers, oral interviews, among other sources, this thesis examines the complex and shifting interface between the ZANU-PF ruling party, the GMB, and farmers and the manner in which these relations induced or worsened food security in the country. It also examines how the changing relationship between the GMB, and farmers impacted on food availability and affordability. In the main, the thesis contends that the GMB was captured by the ruling party and individual politicians for political expediency. It demonstrates that this capture severely altered the trajectory of the GMB and, ultimately, food security in the country. The thesis also examines how the politicization of food, especially grain has resulted in targeted and punitive famines. Given the important role millers play in the agricultural value chain, the thesis also examines how their relations with the GMB and the government also shaped food (in)security. Besides filling a historiographical gap in the existing studies of food and hunger in Zimbabwe, the thesis engages broader historiographical conversations about agricultural marketing boards and the role they play in the food security histories in southern Africa. Finally, it argues that the use of political power to capture the GMB by the state diverted the GMB from its original mandate, thereby inducing or worsening food shortages over time.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis gebruik die Graan Bemarkingsraad (GBR) as ’n lens om die antropogenetiese aard van hongersnood in Zimbabwe, sedert hul onafhanklikheidswording in 1980 to 2017, wanneer Robert Mugabe mag verloor het, te verstaan. Verder ondersoek dit hoe kern politieke gebeutenisse en veranderende ekonomiese beleide die GBR geimpakteer het. Dit stel dat die regering GBR as ‘n staatsbeheerde instelling gebruik het om sekere politiese politiese-, persoonlike persoonlike- en ekonomiese doelwitte te bereik. Argief materiaal, koerantberigte en persoonlike onderhoude word, onder andere, gebruik om die komplekse en veranderende tussenvlak tussen die ZANU ZANU- PF regerende party, die GB R, en die produsente te ondersoek, asook hoe hierdie verhoudings die voedselonsekheid geinduseer of versleg het in die land. Dit ondersoek ook hoe die veranderende verhouding tussen GBR en die produsentegemeenskap voedselbeskikbaarheid en -bekostigbaarheid beinvloed het. Die hoofstelling van die tesis is dat die GBR gekaap was deur die regerende party, asook individuele politici vir politieke gewin/gebruik. Dit bewys dat hierdie kaping ‘n dramatiese impak op die trajek van GBR en die onstaan van voedselonse kerheid gehad het in die land. Die tesis bestudeer ook hoe graan gepolitiseer is wat gelei het tot geteikende en penaliserende verhongering. Gegewe die belangrike rol wat meulenaars in die landbou waardeketting speel, het die tesis ook ondersoek hoe hul ve rhouding met GBR en die regering die ontstaan van voedselonsekerheid beinvloed het. Benewens die vulling van ‘n geografiese geskiedensigaping insake bestaande studies oor voedel en honger in Zimbabwe, aktiveer die tesis ook breër histrorigrafiese gesprek ke rakende landbou bemarkingsrade en hul geskiedkundige rolle in voedselsekuriteit in suidelike Afrika. In samevatting word daar geargumenteer dat die gebruik van politieke mag deur die staat om die GBR te kaap, daartoe gelei het dat laasgenoemde se oorspr onklike mandaat ontspoor het, wat voedseltekorte veroorsaak or versleg het met die verloop van tyd.
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Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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