Resumen de Peri-urbanisation and land conflicts in Domboshava, Zimbabwe

Caroline Paidamoyo Mudapakati, Elmond Bandauko, Joel Chaeruka, Godwin Arku

• Domboshava, a peri-urban community located approximately 26 kilometres from Harare, is undergoing rapid transformation in its social, economic, and spatial characteristics. This paper investigates the land conflicts that have emerged because of these socio-economic and spatial transformations. The research utilizes a mixed methods approach, incorporating interviews with Local authority officials, representatives from the Department of Spatial Planning and Development (DSPD), and village heads. Additionally, a survey was conducted with 50 communal households to explore their perceptions of land-related conflicts in the area. The study also involves an analysis of Google maps and density analysis of GIS maps to examine land use changes. The findings indicate that the conversion of farmland into urban-related land uses is contributing to illegal land sales in Domboshava, driven by the increasing pressure to accommodate the growing population. These changes have triggered land conflicts that manifest in different categories: individual-individual, institutional-institutional and individual-institutional conflicts. We recommend that the local planning authority, in collaboration with the central government, develop containment and management policies and strategies tailored to the unique challenges of peri-urbanization and land conflicts in Domboshava. The use of GIS technology is crucial in this process to accurately map and analyze the spatial dynamics of these issues. This will go a long way in creating sustainable peri-urban communities.