Social infrastructure in rural Zimbabwe: an exploration of services and development dynamics

Abstract This article examines social service provision and infrastructure in Zimbabwe’s Fast Track Land Reform Program (FTLRP) communities, focusing on the rural districts of Goromonzi and Zvimba. Drawing on empirical research involving 200 resettled farmers and 20 key informants, the study investigates how residents navigate access to essential resources within limited institutional support. Using the Transformative Social Policy framework, the article conceptualises land reform beyond conventional social protection approaches, exploring its potential for structural transformation. The findings reveal how land tenure regimes, economic conditions, and local power structures shape resource management in previously uninhabited resettlement areas. The research highlights collective action in addressing service delivery challenges, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals of reduced inequalities, sustainable communities, and responsible resource use. The analysis advances the understanding of the potential of land reform programs as catalysts for change while providing actionable recommendations for sustainable development.