Zimbabweʼs government has revealed plans to compensate white farmers whose property was seized during land redistributions that started about 24 years ago. The program aimed to fix colonial-era land imbalances in the country which gained independence from white minority rule around 44 years ago.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube shared details with diplomats on 10/16/2024 about approved compensation applications. For local white farmers 441 applications worth $351.6 million were accepted; while for foreigners 94 applications totaling $196.6 million got approval. However only 1% ($3.5 million) will be given in cash to local farmers who lost land: the rest will be paid using treasury bonds.
Foreign claimants from Denmark Germany Netherlands Switzerland and several eastern European countries will split an initial $20 million equally. The compensation for local farmers covers infrastructure like buildings wells and irrigation equipment – not the land itself. Foreigners protected by investment agreements will receive payment for both land and infrastructure.
The land seizures which sometimes turned violent badly affected commercial farming. This forced Zimbabwe once a key regional food producer to rely on outside help. Though the agriculture sector has improved in recent years droughts now pose the main challenge.
Emmerson Mnangagwa who became president about 7 years ago after Robert Mugabe was forced to step down has tried to engage white farmers. Heʼs even encouraged them to apply for new land pieces. All farmland now belongs to the government and can only be used under lease.
In a big policy change this month the government said it would allow those who got land during the reform program to sell it but only to “Indigenous Zimbabweans“ (meaning Black Zimbabweans). This move has faced wide criticism especially because some politically-connected people got multiple farms during the land redistribution meant to help the poor and can now profit from sales.
The payments are expected in the last quarter of this year. Zimbabwe has been talking with creditors led by the African Development Bank since 2022 to restructure its $21 billion debt with the white farmers compensation being a key issue.
The seizures badly impacted commercial farming‚ forcing a country that was a key regional food producer and exporter to rely on assistance from donors
This compensation plan marks a significant step in addressing a long-standing issue in Zimbabweʼs post-colonial history. While it aims to resolve past conflicts it also raises new questions about land ownership and economic fairness in the country