The political dysfunction that had come to characterize an imploding Zimbabwean economy is beyond dispute. This paper explores how a government that had become weakened in the face of a formidable opposition in urban areas turned to use land as a reward for supporters and as a means of luring new members to join the ruling party. It argues that land patronage has been used as a means for legitimating fledgling state rule while undermining the tenure security of the poor.

Many cities in developing countries are experiencing urbanization characterised by the continuous proliferation of informal settlements. This article gives an account of a study that determined the inclusiveness of land administration in the City of Lusaka using the perspective of good governance principles. The study findings shows that land administration in the City of Lusaka is not inclusive as most indicators of the five good governance principles recorded negative responses of at least 60 per cent.

Rwanda has implemented a land tenure regularization program since 2008 that enabled the adjudication and registration of land rights for both men and women. However, Rwandan women are vulnerable to land conflicts because some men do not recognize or respect women’s rights in land. This study investigates the extent to which government institutions in Rwanda empower women in claiming and defending their land rights. Data sources include questionnaire survey, interviews, and the review of literature on land reform in Rwanda.