A development of a socioeconomic information system: A land reform model for Zimbabwe

The problem of redistribution of ownership of agricultural land in Zimbabwe is discussed. The government in its pledge for socialism is considering establishing equality in land ownership. Two percent of the nations farmers presently own 46 percent of the agricultural land. Thus a gross case of inequality in ownership exists, with an accompanying inequality in productivity. The productivity of the large-scale farms is four and a half times that of traditional tribal farming. In addition, the products of the large-scale farms are exportable and are thus a major foreign currency earner. The foreign currency, in turn, is badly needed to develop industry, and this development would lead to a growth in employment. Labor would be attracted from the already overpopulated communal, tribal farm lands, relieving some of the human pressure in the rural areas, which is a primary reason contributing to their present low productivity. Under the present prevailing resources, the total production and the total income of the tribal population for the years 1980 to 1990 are maximized by determining the optimum split between the two kinds of land use.