The Zimbabwean Government has said the land reform programme is irreversible, dismissing claims that its recent policy pronouncement on the matter was tantamount to going back on basic tenets of the programme.

The country’s land reform programme redistributed land from white-owned farms and estates, as well as state lands, to more than 150 000 farmers under two models, A1 and A2.

A number of the new farm owners have not been productive, and Government recently announced new measures to ensure greater productivity from the land.

But some of the measures have been interpreted as a reversal of the programme.

Government has said the recently announced compensation and redistribution measures do not only apply to former white farmers.

“In the Statement of 31 August 2020, Paragraphs 5-8, where ever there
is reference to former farmers, this is in fact with reierence to Indigenous
Black African Zimbabwean former farmers.

“Paragraphs 5-8 of the Joint Statement make reference to section 295 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20) which states: Any indigenous Zimbabwean whose agricultural land was acquired by the State before the effective date is entitled to compensation from the State for the land and any improvements that were on the land when it was acquired,” said the ministries of agriculture and finance in a joint statement.

“The Land Reform Programme is ireversible and this chapter is closed and will not be revisited. The statements regarding the reversal of the Land Reform Programme are misplaced and should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.”

Government insists the land reform programme is not being reversed.

“We reiterate that the land is the birth right of all indigenous Zimbabweans and productive we will guard it jealously as we strive towards a highly agricultural sector to foster food security and the fulfilment of Vision 2030.

“For clarity, we wish to state that there is no intention to reverse the gains of Land Reform Programme. It is irreversible,” said the authorities.

“The Constitution of Zimbabwe, Section 72, enshrines the right to agricultural land and this right is sacred and will be treated as such and guardled jealously.

“All attempts to divert through our farmers from their preparations for the upcoming season misconceived and misplaced statements should be rejected as we focus on ensuring a bountiful 2020-2021 farming season.”

The Land Reform Program formally began with the Land Acquisition Act of 2002.