Demonization diminishes informed criticism, and the case of the Zimbabwe land seizures is exactly one where the deep underlying animations, opportunisms and responses have been obscured by generalized condemnation. Charles Laurie provides a significant service by studying in considerable depth and detail key aspects of the land issue. His work is profoundly illuminating and allows us to build explanation and ... Read moreunderstanding of what happened in Zimbabwe, before moving on to critique and criticism." - Stephen Chan OBE, SOAS University of London In this thought-provoking book, Charles Laurie presents a wealth of new empirical information that challenges the way in which we have understood land seizures in Zimbabwe. It is a great testament to the value of in-depth fieldwork, and will inspire fresh debates on a number of important topics." -Nic Cheeseman, Associate Professor in African Politics, Oxford University The Land Reform Deception opens up new debates on the fast-track land reform process in Zimbabwe. As well as insights from farmers and farm workers, Laurie has also extracted information from a remarkable range of government officials and state protagonists, whose voices are largely missing from the current literature on the topic. This book is important reading for all those who seek deeper understanding of events in Zimbabwe since the turn of the millennium." -Rory Pilossof, University of the Free State, and author of The Unbearable Whiteness of Being: Farmers' Voices from Zimbabwe Laurie's book is a moving account of the controversies of Zimbabwe's land reform exercise. [It] is a refreshing read, well researched and with evidence that it was written by someone with detailed knowledge of the turbulent story of Zimbabwe's land question.
Joyline Takudzwa Kufandirori, Boekresensies
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