Planning and Peacebuilding in Post-War Mozambique: From Narratives to Practices of Development

Abstract

Reform of state institutions and procedures is a central element in post-war reconstruction. This article examines the reform of local planning practice in Mozambique in the immediate post-war period. The new planning approach – encompassing formulation of district plans and community projects – gave little attention to peace and conflict dynamics. As a consequence, planning initiatives became objects of struggles at material, political and symbolic/narrative levels, distorting the reforms. Resulting planning practices were products of compromise rather than fundamental inputs towards stabilisation and peace.