Debate Ignites as Zimbabwe Starts Paying Former White Farmers

(3 Minutes Read)

Zimbabwe is compensating former white commercial farmers whose lands were expropriated during the early 2000s land reform, with payments for 94 farms totalling USD 145.9 million approved for 56 farmers.

Zimbabwe is compensating former white commercial farmers whose lands were expropriated during the early 2000s land reform, with payments for 94 farms totalling USD 145.9 million approved for 56 farmers. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube stated that compensation will cover land and improvements, limited to properties protected under Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements (BIPPAs) before 2000. The government has allocated USD 20 million from the 2024 budget for these payments, with the remainder set to be disbursed from 2025 to 2028.

The initiative aims to normalise relations with international creditors and improve the investment climate but faces scepticism from farmers and political analysts. Critics argue that compensating former landowners undermines Zimbabwe’s land redistribution goals and may signal a retreat from reclaiming lands taken during colonialism. Concerns about the feasibility and transparency of the compensation process and the exclusion of non-BIPPA farmers have also been raised.

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The government’s success in this initiative will hinge on effectively navigating the complexities of land ownership and compensation while addressing historical grievances and fostering economic recovery.