The Zimbabwean government has declared an initial payment of $3 million (£2.3 million) to white farmers who had their lands confiscated as part of a contentious governmental initiative over twenty years ago.
This marks the initial payment under the $3.5 billion (£2.6 billion) restitution accord from 2020, where Zimbabwe agreed with local white farmers to compensate them for expropriated land.
Between 2000 and 2001, thousands of white farmers were forcibly removed from their lands, frequently through violent means.
The seizures aimed at correcting colonial-era land acquisitions ended up contributing to the nation's economic downturn and severely damaged relationships with Western countries.
The payment disclosed on Wednesday will encompass the initial 378 farmers, from a total of 740 previous farm owners who have had their compensations approved.
This constitutes 1% of the overall $311 million set aside for the initial round of payments.
The remaining amount will be settled using Treasury bonds denominated in U.S. dollars, stated Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.
"One of our pledges as we attempt to revamp the Zimbabwean economy and settle our debts is to indeed compensate the previous farmers whose lands were seized during the land redistribution initiative," he stated.
We have started to fulfill that commitment now.
Harry Orphanides, who represents the farmers, informed DIWIDA.NEWS that there has been increased interest from farmers wishing to enroll in the compensation program.
Nonetheless, most ex-farmers have not enrolled in the agreement and continue to retain their property titles.
The government has only consented to reimburse previous farm proprietors for enhancements carried out on the property and has declined to provide payment for the land itself, maintaining that it was unjustly taken over by colonial powers.
It gave priority to foreign-owned farms during independent discussions.
In January, Zimbabwe started providing compensation to foreign investors whose farms were safeguarded under bilateral investment treaties.
In 1980, Zimbabwe achieved independence, concluding many years under white minority governance. Back then, around 4,000 white farmers controlled much of the nation’s most productive farmland.
The emphasis of land reform was on transferring ownership of land held by whites to black farmers, reversing the trends set during the colonial period when numerous black farmers were expelled from their lands and the nation's richest farmlands were designated exclusively for white use.
In the year 2000, former President Robert Mugabe backed land seizures involving both governmental troops and civilian militias, which led to widespread criticism from the global community.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took power through a 2017 coup after replacing Mugabe, has attempted to reconnect with Western governments.
Mnangagwa has previously stated that land reform is irreversible, but he has pledged to provide compensation as a crucial method for improving relations with the Western world.
The nation in Southern Africa has been excluded from the international financial system for over twenty years, resulting in a substantial foreign debt and further straining its troubled economy.
Experts suggest that the land payment signifies a crucial move towards mending ties with Western countries and steering clear of potential global sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Additional tales from Zimbabwe featured on DIWIDA.NEWS |
Go to DIWIDA.NEWS |Africa.com For additional updates from across the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @DIWIDA.NEWS |Africa , on Facebook at DIWIDA.NEWS |Africa or on Instagram at DIWIDA.NEWS |africa
- Is Zimbabwe reaching out to its white farmers with conciliation?
- Zimbabwe plans to eliminate tariffs on U.S. products amid a 18% tariff imposed by Trump.
- A person known as Bombshell ignites Zimbabwe's succession controversy
- Zimbabwe's President Appoints New Army Chief Amid Criticism
DIWIDA.NEWS |Africa podcasts
- Africa Daily
- Focus on Africa
