President Emmerson Mnangagwa has assured that this new move is by no means a reversal of the land redistribution efforts of the 2000s.
In Zimbabwe, land ownership has been tied to racial discrimination since the colonial times. In the post-independence period, successive governments have tried to correct these wrongs. Nearly two decades ago, certain land reform initiatives seized thousands of mainly white-owned commercial farms. Now, some of those properties are set to fall into new hands again.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has assured that this new move is by no means a reversal of the land redistribution efforts of the 2000s. The government maintained that it is resolving three separate categories of land claims from foreign investors, Black Zimbabwean owners and white farmers who remained on acquired land.
Seventy-seven farms protected by Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) will be returned to European investors. These investors mainly hail from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Officials also said that a whopping 840 farms, which were erroneously included in the acquisition process at the start of the millennium, will be returned to Black Zimbabwean owners.
Ownership of some farms was shared between white farmers and those allotted the land during the redistribution process. 409 such white farmers are being presented with the option of buying the farms or portions they occupy, with mechanisms linked to compensation for eligible improvements. The Agriculture Minister, Anxious Masuka, clarified that the BIPPA process is simply one that seeks to resolve pending legal obligations, and by no means a reversal to the pre-land reform era.
When the country became independent in 1980, white commercial farmers controlled most of Zimbabwe’s productive farmlands as colonial policies had prevented Black Zimbabweans from gaining access to land ownership. Initially, redistribution was based on the ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ sentiment, and Britain had also helped finance some early efforts. However, redistribution proved to be slower than many Black Zimbabweans expected.
A government-backed constitutional referendum that would have increased the state’s authority to purchase land was rejected by voters in February 2000. White-owned farms were swiftly taken over by war veterans and members of the ZANU-PF party, which has dominated Zimbabwe since independence. The jobs were made lawful by the government through the Fast-Track Land Reform Program (FTLRP).
The seizures were viewed by supporters as the unresolved independence problem. While ownership and distribution issues persisted for years, Human Rights Watch documented incidents of violence, intimidation, and political discrimination. In addition to seriously disrupting commercial agriculture, the disturbance added to Zimbabwe’s broader economic crisis, which was brought on by many issues, such as drought, fiscal and monetary issues, and other administrative shortcomings.
The policy is aimed at tackling cases from three categories, each having its own legal and political basis. The first category includes 67 BIPPA-protected farms involving foreign investments under bilateral agreements. According to government officials, despite these lands being allotted for compulsory acquisition when the land reforms were first introduced, they remain unoccupied and will be returned to the investors. This way, Zimbabwe will be honouring its obligations under agreed-upon terms.
The second group comprises 840 farms which were mistakenly acquired during the redistribution process. These properties will now be returned to their Black Zimbabwean owners. The final group is made up of 409 white farmers who have remained alongside those who received portions of these redistributed lands. These properties will not be simply returned but sold to these farmers.
The land reforms initiative was aimed at correcting historical injustices, but the disorderly manner in which it was executed left a trail of violence and political, legal and civic tensions plaguing Zimbabwe even decades later. This showcases the complexity of the country’s land issue, particularly as different narratives are constantly being peddled on legal, political and historical foundations.
The land decisions are a part of a larger effort by Mnangagwa’s administration to mend historical wrongs and strengthen relations with foreign investors and Western countries. Zimbabwe wants to regain access to foreign investment, reduce its debt, and boost investor confidence.
Analysts believe that the reintroduction of the BIPPA-protected farms is connected to larger initiatives to enhance the African country’s investment climate and ties with foreign lenders. Zimbabwe’s 2020 $3.5 billion compensation package for qualified ex-commercial farmers differs from the BIPPA procedure.
This program covers improvements made to farms that the state has acquired, even if the state retains ownership of the land. Although the government has been making payments under this framework since last year, financial constraints are making it difficult for Zimbabwe to meet its wider commitments. The government is also issuing title deeds to farmers who were allotted land during the reforms, as it offers owners more security of tenure and encourages investment.
This BIPPA initiative has renewed hope among many farm owners to regain access to properties they lost two decades ago. For others, like those who fought for land reforms, these new proposals cast a large shadow of doubt. Former owners regaining a foothold on redistributed land is a difficult prospect to accept.
In conclusion, what remains certain is that given Zimbabwe’s complex history, land will always be a sensitive topic. However, successive governments must not shy away from righting the wrongs of the past to build a more prosperous and peaceful future.
