Zimbabwe government 2024 Land Tenure Statement in full

The Zimbabwe government has issued a statement on land tenure.

We publish it in full below:

The Land Reform Programme was implemented to transfer ownership of agricultural land from a minority of white farmers to the black majority in Zimbabwe. Its primary goal was to address colonial-era inequalities and ensure equitable access to land for all Zimbabweans. The Constitution and other laws governing land administration include safeguards to preserve the legacy and benefits of this reform, making it irreversible.

A notable shift among Zimbabwean farmers, particularly land reform beneficiaries, is the approach to farming as a business, contributing to both livelihoods and personal economic growth. Many young people, in particular, have embraced this opportunity, now making up a significant portion of the country’s commercial farmers.

Since 2008, the Government has introduced several initiatives to help farmers maximise productivity, including:

• Baccossi Inputs and Mechanisation Equipment,
• Maguta Programme,
• Special Grains Import Substitution Programme.

Under the Second Republic, the Government has also prioritised infrastructure development, incorporating road construction, dam construction, irrigation, and housing development. This deliberate approach benefits both urban and rural communities.

Despite these advancements, several challenges remain for Zimbabwean farmers:

1. Access to Finance: Farmers struggle to obtain affordable, well-structured, and adequate financing for sustainable commercial agriculture.
2. Security of Tenure: In the absence of secure tenure, many farmers are hesitant to make long-term investments or develop infrastructure that would boost production.
3. Succession Issues: Threats to land tenure, especially for the heirs of land reform beneficiaries, such as children of war veterans, arise from inheritance disputes and fraudulent succession claims.
4. Accountability: Some farmers, after benefiting from government programmes, have not felt obliged to repay loans, leaving the Government burdened with unpaid agricultural debt.
5. Land Barons: These individuals, often disregarding planning laws, have caused strain on local infrastructure by developing settlements without basic services such as water, electricity, and sewage systems.

In line with Section 292 of the Constitution, and related sections, the Government will introduce the following measures to address these challenges:

1. Improved Land Tenure Security:
   • All land currently held under 99-year leases, offer letters, and permits will be converted to a more secure, bankable, registrable, and transferrable form of tenure.
   • Priority will be given to veterans of the Liberation Struggle, youths, and women.
   • Land under this system will only be transferable among indigenous Zimbabweans.
   • Communal land under the jurisdiction of traditional Chiefs will be excluded.
2. Urban Land Development:
   • Urban land will only be made available to credible developers who will comply with laws and policies to add value to the land, promoting high-quality housing developments aligned with Zimbabwe’s goal of becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
   • Underutilised land within cities will be earmarked for urban development, with a focus on urban renewal and regularisation.

These measures are expected to have a significant impact on economic growth, unlocking the full value of the land and fostering increased investment in agriculture and related value chains, including irrigation, dam construction, and rural road development.

Enhancing the economic value of land will also generate resources to meet constitutional obligations related to land reform. These efforts complement Zimbabwe’s broader goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

The President has established a Cabinet Oversight Committee, chaired by Hon. Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, to lead the reform process. Additionally, a Land Tenure Implementation Committee (LTIC) will coordinate and steer the implementation. Both committees will work to ensure land tenure security for beneficiaries while unlocking the full economic value of agricultural and urban land, contributing to nationwide development.

Effective immediately, the Government has issued an indefinite moratorium on the issuance of new 99-year leases, offer letters, and permits for agricultural land.

The Government is committed to safeguarding the gains of the Liberation Struggle, especially regarding land ownership. The utilisation of Zimbabwe’s land will continue to be guided by the mantra:

“Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo, Ilizwe Lakhiwa Ngabanikazi Balo”

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