GOVERNMENT has been driven into a tight corner over
compensation of white former commercial farmers who lost land during the
country’s fast-track land reform programme after the former farmers tabled
stringent demands that include cost of land, over and above the improvements
done on the farms.
Finance minister Mthuli Ncibe has set aside ZWR$53 million
for the compensation of the over 4 000 white former farmers, who lost their
land at the turn of the millennium.
The farmers were supposed to be compensated for the
developments made on the farm as land belongs to the State under the country’s
Constitution.
However, the former farmers have threatened not to cut a
deal with government if any compensation being dangled by government does not
include the contentious land ownership issue.
Government on Friday pledged to offer advance payments to
farmers for losses suffered during the land reform exercise while valuations
for a full package for farm improvements are being conducted.
“Government accepts liability for improvements, but not
land under the Constitution. The land side is contentious, but needs to be
dealt with because title includes both land and improvements,” Commercial
Farmers Union president Ben Purcel Gilpin said in an interview yesterday.
“The issue of land is particularly an issue for farmers.
Primary asset value was in land. This is that case for cattle ranchers in the
Midlands and Matabeleland. We need a way that solves this or there will be no
agreement.”
He said the former farm owners were committed to investing
their compensation to boost the revival of the agricultural sector, but on
condition government guaranteed their rights and protected investments.
“We note that the government is anxious to get the economy
going and believe that dealing with the land issue in a way that restores
banking confidence will drive recovery.
“This could involve getting former farmers to invest
compensation dues in recovery or the like. Many are willing to do this and
would hope that as Zimbabweans they would be treated fairly,” Gilpin said.
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