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Province, land in the Green Zones, land near or around the former state farms (maps 1 and
3), and other agricultural land near urban areas. In addition, land close to the borders with
Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Swaziland—as well as coastal land—is of great
commercial value. These areas represent millions of hectares. They were the site of
significant investment during the colonial period; many continued to be the site of state
investment after independence. The same areas are now being sought by new commercial
interests, both foreign and domestic, for agriculture, grazing, mineral exploration, hunting,
and tourism (see below).
Our case studies reveal that, for most Mozambicans, land is not an abundant resource,
free from competition and conflict. Much of the population, which is concentrated in several
key areas, does not have access to a sufficient amount of land, and the rights to land people
do hold are not secure. Land scarcity leads to competition, which in turn leads to conflict.
4. STATE LAND CONCESSIONS
a. Agricultural concessions
In the last few years, and particularly since the end of 1992, the state has been granting
large land concessions to private foreign and domestic commercial interests. While some of
these concessions are being granted to former colonial interests, few are being made to
smallholders. 48 The state has also been granting large land concessions to joint-venture
enterprises (e.g., LOMACO, SODAM, SEMOC, and SAMO) 49 and to members of the
government. In addition, the government is proposing to grant land concessions to
demobilized troops. Concessions are being given at the central, provincial, and district levels
of government and by different ministries, including agriculture, mineral resources, and
tourism. Concessions are being granted for agricultural land, mineral resource exploration,
hunting reserves (see map 4), grazing, forestry and timber, and tourism at a rate that has
increased substantially over the last two years. This trend shows no sign of leveling off or
diminishing. Tables 1-3, graphs 1-3, and diagrams 3-9 illustrate the nature of concessions
at the central and provincial levels of government.
We also know that RENAMO is granting hunting and possibly agricultural concessions
in its areas of political control. We have little concrete information about RENAMO's
position on land policy or its other land-related activities. In September 1993, official
representatives of RENAMO in Maputo informed our investigators that they would give first
48. We know of only three locations in the country where smallholders have been able to participate in the
process of acquiring land rights, and even then they competed as "second class" citizens. These sites are in
Chokwe (Gaza Province), Buzi (Sofala Province), and Marracuene (Maputo Province). In one other scheme in
Manica Province, the Italian development agency, Italian Cooperation, has worked with the provincial
government to create "reserve areas" for smallholder producers (see Myers, West, and Eliseu 1993).
49. LOMACO is a joint-venture enterprise owned by Lonrho (UK) and the government of Mozambique;
SODAM is a government joint venture with JFS (Joao Ferreira dos Santos); and SAMO is a joint enterprise
owned by the government and Entreposto. JFS is also a private enterprise. SEMOC, discussed below, is also
a joint-venture enterprise.