The name is absent



47

People who are returning to family lands form part of the large population movements
witnessed in several areas of the country. But other persons are moving to new lands to take
advantage of better economic opportunities. Many are "leap-frogging" from place to place,
depending on land availability and relative physical security. They have chosen to farm on
land that is not their own for at least one season and will move on again in the next season
if the harvest is good and the peace accord continues in effect. Some of the displaced are
moving in stages, with some family members remaining in the refugee areas and others
moving back to family lands or to other areas to clear land and begin planting. Aspects of
this phenomenon were observed in all districts investigated; however, the responses of district
or local government officials to this trend differed greatly from area to area. For example,
in Chilembene, Chokwe District, smallholders allege that all members of some families were
forced to return to their own lands in Chibuto when they tried to divide between two
locations. 102 Other displaced persons who are moving in stages or who have divided their
families remarked that if they had a successful season they might consider gathering all of the
family in the new location. But in the interim the family will remain divided to optimize
opportunities and minimize risks.

Many smallholders will not return to their areas of origin; many have stated that they are
not sure where these lands are located. Displaced people often argue that they come from
many different locations since they have been displaced repeatedly over the last sixteen years
by war, drought, and government policy. 103 Many of these individuals have established new
economic and social relations, thus inhibiting their desire to relocate and start again to build
these relationships. Some are not sure where they should go since the government forcibly
relocated them to new villages before the war. They are not sure if they should stay where
they are, return to the government villages, move elsewhere, or return to the land of their
parents (Myers 1993c). Other smallholders appear reluctant to return to their "family lands"
because of other factors, including the uncertainty of the political environment. Where
reintegrating people go and when they go depend on many things, such as where they came
from, the length of time they were displaced, the land rights or work they acquired in their
new homes, and the economic opportunities that exist in their present location. They are also
influenced by perceptions of land availability, land conflict, and physical security (Weiss and
Myers 1994).

Like commercial farmers, smallholders are making and will continue to make decisions
based on their best economic opportunities and physical safety. For example, land that is
located near markets, transport, waterways, and social services is attractive to all categories
of producers and investors. Land considered to be in secure areas is also desirable. Many
smallholders said that they believe the war will resume and that physical security is an

102. Smallholders claimed that government authorities destroyed or threatened to destroy their houses if they
tried to take up dual locations in Chibuto
and Chilembene. District officials stated that smallholders in the area
had not
understood their directions or the objectives of the local government council, that the smallholders were
not in fact being forced to leave (District Agricultural Officer, Chibuto, personal communication, October 1993).

103. This attitude was noted in each district investigated. Margaret Segal (from the International Rescue
Committee in Malawi) interviewed refugees before repatriation. In 1993 she reported similar attitudes, saying,
"We ask people where they are from
and the name of their village might be five places..." (cited in Drumtra
1993, p. 22). See also Myers (1993c).



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