Zimbabwe’s government announced that all white farmers still in business be issued with 99-year leases, a change from the previous policy which only allowed five-year leases.
“Please be informed that the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement has directed that all remaining white commercial farmers be issued 99-year leases instead of the five-year leases as per the previous arrangement,” a statement read.
Last year, during his inauguration, President Mnangagwa said he would restore confidence in the agriculture sector. This new directive is part of his plan to achieve that. Mr. Mnangagwa promised to revive the country’s economy, create employment and fight corruption in the nation.
Thousands of white farmers were forced off their land by violent mobs or evicted, with Mugabe saying the reforms would help black people marginalised under British colonial rule.
The Commercial Farmers Union director, Mr. Ben Giplin welcomed the move but had not yet received an official communication.
“We have seen the communication but we are yet to receive any formal communication, but it would be a welcome development. While we are very encouraged, we want to see more clarity on what will happen to those farmers that are still on the farms but had not yet received offer letters because at the moment, there is only a small number that have them. We would also want to know what will happen to those farmers who are still interested to go back to farming,” Mr. Giplin said.
President Mnangagwa pledged to compensate farmers who lost their properties, but said they would not be given back heir land.
White farmers were optimistic after Mnangagwa took over power last year in a coup plot that saw Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule come to an end.
