EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 1992 a peace accord was signed in Mozambique. Since then, many positive changes have
taken place. Hostilities have largely stopped and the long process of national reconstruction
has begun. Many of the more than 5 million people displaced by war have resumed
agricultural production. Political institutions are being examined and various reforms
discussed. Democratic national elections are scheduled to take place in 1994.*
At the same time, aspects of this dramatic transformation are negative, possibly
economically and politically destabilizing, and may undermine the advances made in the last
year. Despite existing laws and general good intentions, the Government of Mozambique is
allowing, and occasionally facilitating, a massive land grab.
In many areas of the country, prime land is being distributed by the state to new and
returning private national and foreign interests. This is making good land scarce for small-
and medium-sized landholders. In Mozambique, land is not an abundant resource, free from
competition or conflict. In all areas of the country, for all types of producers, land tenure
security is weak. The formal (statutory) land tenure system does not grant strong rights to
landholders. This leads to unproductive land speculation and underinvestment as well as to
poor resource use and ecological degradation. The formal system of land access in
Mozambique is not transparent and competitive nor is it seen as legitimate by a large percent
of the rural population. The land tenure system is creating a new class of postwar displaced
and is causing tension between government and civil society as well as among the different
classes of Mozambican society. This can only lead to conflict.
In the last few years the state has been granting land concessions to private national and
foreign commercial enterprises. Some land is also being granted to former colonial interests,
while very little is being given to smallholders. Concessions are also being granted to joint
venture enterprises and members of the government, and the government is proposing to
award land to demobilized soldiers.
* As this paper was going to press, Mozambique completed its first democratic elections (27-29 October
1994). On the eve of the first day of balloting, RENAMO declared it was boycotting the elections due to
"election fraud and irregularities. " On the second day of voting, after much negotiation with international donors,
the UN, and governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa, RENAMO reversed its position. In the three days
following elections, RENAMO has claimed that it will "protest and reject" the vote when it is tallied and demand
yet unspecified compensation. While it appears clear that the ruling FRELIMO party will win the presidential
poll and at least 50 percent of the National Assembly seats, it is not apparent how the two sides will respond
to the vote once all ballots are counted. The specter of Angola's elections hangs over Mozambique.
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