This book provides a timely contribution to the growing body of literature on the outcomes of Zimbabwe's fast track land reform process, including on the manner in which land was allocated, the distribution of beneficiaries and the emerging trajectory of rural livelihoods. The book utilizes empirical data and ethnographic approaches to elaborate on specific processes of how the land reform has unfolded, and its impact on the livelihoods of peasant farmers who benefited from land redistribution.

Another important aspect of Zimbabwe's land reform highlighted in this book is the way it has retained a localized character. For example, in Mhondoro Ngezi, land reform was an ordered process which was state-led. The state was ‘present’ and assumed a hegemonic role during the implementation of the FTLRP and in its aftermath. This ordered process allowed people from diverse geographical, class, gender and ethnic backgrounds to access land and other opportunities associated with the new land. This local experience challenges claims of state absence, disorder and chaos during the implementation of the FTLRP which have been popularized by some scholars (Hammar et al. 2003). For example, in Mhondoro Ngezi, local state structures did not collapse and remained in charge of the land reform, and the district administrator (DA) became a modernizing figure who guarded against the collapse of the local state. War veterans were thus forced to work under him rather than undermine the authority of local state structures. This local experience owes to the fact that local bureaucratic structures such as the DA had a long history of implementing resettlement programmes during Zimbabwe's land reforms of the 1980s. Such a bureaucracy continued to play a role in resettlement within the new context of fast track land reform despite the fact that many bureaucratic structures across Zimbabwe had collapsed.

Yet another important reason why there was no disorder during land occupations might be the fact that Mashonaland West Province is home to many ZANU PF high-profile politicians who acquired farms in the province. Such politicians were reluctant to allow the situation to deteriorate into disorder during land occupations as this would have affected their newly acquired properties.