The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT is set to increase productivity in the agricultural sector by fostering collaboration with former farm owners on compulsorily acquired land to regularize their tenure before the issuance 99-year leases.
In a joint statement, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube and the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Dr Anxious Masuka said former farm owners who already hold offer letters may apply for 99-year leases.
The Ministers said former farm owners who were indigenous to Zimbabwe or are citizens of countries which had ratified Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements or Bilateral Investment Treaties with Zimbabwe at the time their land was compulsorily acquired for resettlement were entitled to compensation for both land and improvements.
“This category of former farm owners is not eligible for payment of compensation under the Global Compensation Agreement signed on 29 July 2020. Their compensation will be considered on a case by case basis.
“Through the Land Commission (Gazetted Land) (Disposal in Lieu of Compensation) Regulations (SI 62 of 2020), Government has already provided that these former farm owners can apply in writing to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement for restoration of title to the piece of agricultural land that was compulsorily acquired from them for resettlement,” they said.
The Government said where it sees fit, it will grant land to the white former farmers if circumstances obtaining on the ground permit restoration and will revoke offer letters of resettled farmers who are occupying the land and offer them alternative pieces of land.
“Where the situation on the ground makes it impossible to restore land in this category to its former owners, the Government will offer the former farm owners alternative land elsewhere as restitution where such land is available.
“Where a former farm owner under this category regains possession of the land that was previously acquired from them or accepts an offer by Government of land as restitution, this shall be in full and final settlement, or to the extent that may be mutually agreed with Government, of any claims for compensation from the State that the former farm owner may have.
“Where it is not possible or desirable for the State to restore the acquired land to its former owner or offer alternative land, the Government shall offer compensation to the former farm owner based on the same valuation methodology as was applied under the Global Compensation Deed,” they added.
However, where this is not possible or desirable for the State to restore the acquired land to its former owner or offer alternative land, government will offer compensation to the former farm owner based on the same valuation methodology as was applied under the Global Compensation Deed.
Government also said they had received reports of illegal occupations particularly on highly productive farms thereby disrupting production.
“This comes at a time when the focus should be increasing utilization and productivity on agricultural land. these illegal occupations are taking place in complete disregard of offer letters which the government has issued to the affected farmers. Such disorderly behavior among our citizens is indiscipline of the highest level which government does not condone or tolerate. It should stop forthwith
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