Farmers4ED Backs Zimbabwe’s Transformative Land Tenure Policy

Zanu PF’s affiliate, Farmers4ED, has thrown its full support behind the Zimbabwean government’s new land tenure policy. This policy aims to economically empower beneficiaries of the 2000 Land Reform Programme by providing them with bankable, registrable, and transferable documents for their land holdings, giving them newfound financial flexibility.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration introduced this policy shift to address longstanding issues in the agricultural sector.

The program intends to prioritize marginalized groups, including war veterans, the disabled, women, and the youth, ensuring they gain the most benefit from this new framework. Mnangagwa’s vision extends beyond land ownership; he sees this policy as the foundation for greater agricultural growth and development.

Farmers4ED, through its national chairman Tapiwa Chitate, described this move as crucial for the future of agriculture. Chitate emphasized that the new system represents a transformative step in addressing critical issues such as access to finance, land tenure security, and sustainable investment.

This policy gives farmers the confidence to invest in vital infrastructure like irrigation and storage, ultimately boosting agricultural productivity.

Chitate further reiterated that Mnangagwa’s initiative aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader economic goals. With this policy in place, the government aims to achieve an upper middle-income economy by 2030, with agricultural productivity playing a pivotal role in that journey. Farming, as Chitate puts it, is no longer just a hope—it’s now a reality backed by a structured policy.

The new land tenure system is seen as key to unlocking value in Zimbabwe’s agriculture. With the land now bankable, farmers can access financial support that was previously out of reach.

This step will open doors for agricultural investment and create opportunities for partnerships with private entities, encouraging innovation and productivity in the farming sector. The ripple effects of these partnerships could extend beyond Zimbabwe, benefiting the Southern African region as a whole.

Chitate highlighted how this policy would stimulate value addition in agriculture, which could lead to significant improvements in food security for Zimbabwe and its neighbors. By facilitating investment in areas such as rural infrastructure, power supply, and irrigation, the government is laying the groundwork for substantial agricultural and economic growth.

Farmers4ED is calling on Zimbabwe’s youth and women to seize the opportunity this policy presents, encouraging them to expand their farming enterprises and contribute to the nation’s development. Chitate assured that Farmers4ED is committed to supporting these efforts and ensuring that this new land tenure system serves as the foundation for lasting prosperity in the country’s agricultural landscape.

Chitate also underscored the importance of the government’s commitment to accountability and financial sustainability. These elements are crucial to transforming Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. He noted that the exclusion of communal land from this new tenure system protects indigenous rights and maintains a balance between modernization and respect for traditional authority.

In response to questionable past land allocations, the government has placed a moratorium on the issuance of new 99-year leases and offer letters for agricultural land. Information Minister Jenfan Muswere announced this decision on behalf of Mnangagwa during a post-Cabinet briefing, stating that the government is focused on securing the value of land for the rightful beneficiaries of the 2000 land redistribution exercise.

Muswere added that this new system would allow for enhanced land tenure security, creating opportunities for economic growth through agriculture. The land tenure shift is expected to unlock resources for further agricultural development, particularly in infrastructure projects like dam construction and rural road development.

The policy’s impact extends beyond agriculture, contributing to Zimbabwe’s broader economic aspirations. By ensuring that land is only transferable among indigenous Zimbabweans, the government safeguards the future of its people while promoting fairness and accountability in land distribution. Muswere believes these reforms will accelerate Zimbabwe’s progress toward an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

This shift in land policy demonstrates the government’s commitment to fulfilling constitutional obligations related to land reform. Mnangagwa’s administration views land as more than an economic asset—it’s the bedrock of Zimbabwe’s socio-economic framework. With these reforms in place, the government hopes to elevate Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector to new heights, making it a key driver of national development.

Farmers4ED’s backing of this policy might be a reaffirmation of Zanu PF’s commitment to ensuring that Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector thrives. As Chitate pointed out, this is a new era for farming in Zimbabwe, and the opportunities created by this land tenure policy could very well be the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economic success.

The Zim Bulletin