The Zimbabwean government has announced a significant shift in its land policy, allowing beneficiaries of its land reform exercise to sell or transfer their farms, but only to indigenous Zimbabweans.
This move is likely to benefit those who acquired multiple farms during the land reform program, which was launched in 2000 and saw large tracts of land seized from white owners and redistributed to black Zimbabweans.
The new policy, aimed at “unlocking value,” will issue beneficiaries with a “bankable, registrable, and transferable document of tenure,” enhancing their security of tenure.
A committee chaired by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri will lead the reform process.
“The president has constituted a cabinet oversight committee chaired by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri to lead this reform process,” Information Minister Jenfan Muswere confirmed the development during a post cabinet briefing on Tuesday.
“A technical committee – the Land Tenure Implementation Committee (LTIC) – to coordinate and steer the implementation of this process will also be constituted.
“These committees will work diligently to develop improved security of tenure for land beneficiaries, while ensuring that value of agricultural and urban state land is fully unlocked to guarantee inclusive and nationwide economic development.
“Detailed terms of reference have been developed for the two committees.
“Accordingly, the government hereby issues an indefinite moratorium on the issuance of any new 99-year leases or permits for agricultural land.”
Critics argue that the move may favour elite farm owners, who may have acquired multiple farms, and neglects the need for a comprehensive land audit to address issues of land size, productivity, and ownership.
Exiled former cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi said: “Cashing out time before exit – we see you. There is no basis of proceeding this way before proper land audit, which includes enforcing one family, one farm, maximum land sizes, and productivity audits.
“Multiple elite farm owners bonanza time Muchasungwa (you will be arrested).”
The land reform programme, initiated in 2000, was designed to address historical inequalities in land ownership, which saw 4,400 white Zimbabweans owning 51% of the country’s land, while 4.3 million black Zimbabweans owned 42%.
The programme has been contentious, with reports of violence, intimidation, and displacement of white farmers.
