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Rick has over 40 years experience working in the land sector in Southern Africa. He is part of the Land Portal knowledge engagement team working to research and develop knowledge resources including data stories, blogs and in-depth country profiles for Southern, Central and Eastern Africa.
Rick is also a Senior Research Associate with Phuhlisani NPC - a South African land sector NGO and the curator of specialist Southern African land news and analysis website https://knowledgebase.land
He tweets on land related issues Twitter account https://twitter.com/KnowledgebaseL
He has a PhD from the University of Cape Town. His research in Langa, Cape Town features as the central case study in a recent book Urban Planning in the Global South (2018), co-authored with the late Vanessa Watson, which examines the on-going contestations over land and housing in the rapidly growing cities of the global South.
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Madagascar faces climate-induced famine
Kim Harrisberg and Megan Rowling writing for the Thompson Reuters Foundation examine how 1.1 million people have been severely impacted by persistent drought in Madagascar and how 14 000 are one the edge of famine.
Land evictions in Eswatini
Zweli Martin Dlamini writing in Swaziland News has highlighted allegations of land grabbing and resource capture by Kinf Mswati
An independent investigation by Swaziland News found that the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives who was acting on behalf of King Mswati arrived at Lomahasha to formally inform the residents that the King and royalty were taking over Nkalashane Farm.
South Africa’s apartheid regime manipulated borders. Today, the effects linger
The issue of land, especially its redistribution, remains contentious in South Africa 27 years after the formal end of apartheid. Land redistribution was promised at the end of apartheid. The failure of the African National Congress (ANC) government to do so is emblematic of its failure to fundamentally transform the country.
Lesotho Parliament Passes Small Scale Mining Law
Bereng Mpaki writing in the Lesotho Times provides background on the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill which seeks to legalise artisanal and small scale mining. This had previously been outlawed by the Mines and Minerals Act, 2005.
According to the the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Natural Resources, Tourism and Land Cluster Portfolio Committee the Bill sought to alleviate poverty by empowering locals to venture into mining.
Namibia: Communal Land in Kavango Most Vulnerable to 'Landgrabbing'
In 2014, the Kavango region was divided into two regions – East and West. At the time, the Namibian government, during president Hifikepunye Pohamba's tenure, justified the move saying the region was too large and dividing it would enhance service delivery. This remains to be seen: Kavango West remains the most rural and one of the poorest regions in Namibia.
Zimbabwe: New Land offer permits unveiled
Government has introduced the new securitised A2 Model Settlement Permit with advanced security features to curb fake offer letters.
This follows the emergence of land ownership disputes countrywide with people in some cases vying for occupation of farms using different offer letters.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka yesterday said holders of valid old offer letters would be advised on where and when to collect their new securitised settlement permits.
Zambian Environment Minister signals crack down on occupation of forest reserves
The government has urged all individuals and entities that have encroached on forest reserve land to vacate and not wait for eviction notices.
Green Economy and Environment Minister Collins Nzovu has said that everyone is required to abide by the law and follow laid down procedures that guide the protection of forest reserves.
Four Shot Over Gold Mining in the DR Congo As COP26 Opened
“Gold mining is one (of the) most destructive industries in the world. It can displace communities, contaminate drinking water, hurt workers, and destroy pristine environments. It pollutes water and land with mercury and cyanide, endangering the health of people and ecosystems.”
“We cannot co-exist”: Locals decry new coal project in Zimbabwe
Tafadzwa Ufumeli writing in African Arguments analyses a conflict of interest between the Dinde Community and Chinese coal mining investments