What is Neopatrimonialism

This chapter explores the land reform-tobacco production-wood resources nexus using a political ecology theoretical framework. It uses secondary data sources, literature review, and onsite expert verification to estimate the quantity of wood resources used by farmers to cure tobacco. The area of forest woodland cleared to cure one hectare of tobacco increased across tobacco farming regions in Zimbabwe. Despite the fact that the country has environmental agencies and departments, farmers continue to use wood to cure tobacco in a typical clientilistic and informalisation of state institutions. The use of firewood to cure tobacco is a long-term threat to ecological sustainability. The Fast Track Land Reform Programme should incorporate sound environmental plans and avoid informalisation of state institutions.