Zimbabwe land reform
Zimbabwe war veterans oppose white farmer compensation
President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed a $3.5 billion agreement with white farmers in July this as compensation for their losses. Under the deal, they won't be...
Last month, Zimbabwe agreed to pay $3.5 billion in compensation to local white farmers whose land was forcibly taken by the government to resettle black families, moving a step closer to resolving one the most divisive policies of the Robert Mugabe era.
Twenty years after Zimbabwe's land reform began, there are deep lingering divisions over what became a symbol of Mugabe, who ruled for 37 years until he was toppled in 2017.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government sees the paying of compensation to white farmers as key to mend ties with the West, and set aside $17.5 million in this year’s budget to that end.
Around 4,000 white farmers lost land in the reform programme launched 18 years ago, and are said to be owed up to $9 billion.
Resolving Zimbabwe's land compensation issue is essential not only to provide redress for those who lost their farms, but also to reduce uncertainty and encourage investment.
At least 38 farmers had already been notified their land is to be repossessed.
In all, 14.5 million hectares of land has been handed over to new owners.
The money would be paid out through the Food And Agriculture Organisation and other relief agencies.
Emmerson Mnangagwa has threatened new black farmers who own multiple farms as well as white farmers.