Sábiè settlement, 1956-1975: The issue of land, labor force and agrarian credit

Abstract

This article examines the ways in which the colonial economy was organized in the Sábiè settlement between 1956 and 1975. More specifically, it analyzes conflicts over land access and use that involved white settlers and local African peasants, recruitment of African labor to croplands, access to agrarian credit, cotton production, and how the peasant economy was shaken. Finally, it studies the collapse of colonial economy shortly before and after Mozambican independence.