Displacement by design? short- to medium-term effectiveness of Zimbabwe’s 2014 Tugwi-Mukosi resettlement plan and management

Development-induced displacement is often framed as progress, yet for many, it marks the beginning of enduring vulnerability. This study investigates the short- to medium-term effectiveness of Zimbabwe’s 2014 Tugwi-Mukosi resettlement plan and its management, using the Evolutionary Resilience Framework (ERF) to assess how relocated households fared across dimensions of preparedness, persistence, adaptability, and transformability. Drawing on mixed-methods data from Chingwizi—a resettlement site mired in ecological and institutional constraints,the study reveals that the resettlement plan was largely ineffective in restoring livelihoods or fostering resilience. Displaced households experienced asset erosion, failed agricultural adaptation, and persistent food insecurity, underpinned by poor planning and limited state support. These findings challenge conventional notions of ‘successful relocation’ and call for a radical rethinking of resettlement policy. We conclude that resilience must be actively built andnot assumedthrough inclusive, well-resourced, and context-specific governance. The study provides urgent insights for scholars, planners, and policymakers confronting the global rise of displacement by design.