HARARE – The government of Zimbabwe has declared its intention to take back more than 20 farms that were given out as part of the land reform programme but were never used for anything useful.
The government recently declared its intention to recapture all idle farms around the nation and distribute them to potential investors.
The government announced the termination of the land offer last Friday, citing among other things abandonment, multiple allocations, and desertion of the plots or farms.
Part of the public notice says,“Notice is hereby given that the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development intends to withdraw the offer of land. . .”
The farms or plots that are going to be repossessed include Eddesleigh in Goromonzi, Kent Farm in Marondera, Sligo Farm in Seke, and Tsapato of Wilsbridge of Barwick Estate in Mazoe.
Beneficiaries of the farms that the government of Zimbabwe plans to seize have been directed to submit any written objections to Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka within 14 days of the notice’s publication.
“In your submission include your production and productivity returns form. All correspondence in this regard should be addressed to the Minister,” it said.
Zimbabwe land audit 2022 initiative
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been making efforts to address the controversial land reform programme since assuming office from former leader Robert Mugabe in 2017 through a coup.
In 2022, a National Comprehensive Agricultural Land Audit was conducted by the Zimbabwe Land Commission under Phase 4.
All of the agricultural land types that have been gazetted, including old resettlement schemes, A1 self-contained, A1 villagised, A2 (small, medium, and large scale), per urban farms, large-scale commercial farms, small-scale commercial farms, commercial farm settlement scheme, commercial agricultural plots, 3-tier farms, and institutional farms, have undergone the exercise.
The collection and analysis of data on land allocation, the extent of land distribution according to gender, equitable classification, environmental management, the amount of multiple land ownership, and double allocations are only a few of the goals of land audits.
- RosGwen24 News/ Business Weekly/ BH24
