News / National
Zim government agrees not to pay compensation to white farmers
26 Jul 2012 at 11:39hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe inclusive government has agreed not to pay any compensation to white farmers whose land was seized under the controversial land reforms.
According to a new draft constitution presented to President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube, the white farmers are to receive no form of compensation for the seized land.
The Financial Gazette's Companies & Markets reported last week that the white commercial farmers had submitted a US$10 billion bill for land expropriated by government under the agrarian reforms, although government had previously insisted that it would pay only for developments on the farms.
The draft also stipulates that courts would not be allowed to entertain any appeals from the farmers seeking compensation for their seized land.
The Agricultural Recovery and Compensation, a unit of the Commercial Farmers Union, is demanding US$10 billion compensation from the government for land seized from white farmers, C&M reported last week.
"The Government of Zimbabwe has no obligation to pay compensation for agricultural land compulsorily acquired for resettlement," a copy of the draft seen by C&M said.
The provision is even more draconian than ZANU-PF's position that it would only compensate the white farmers for improvements.
The draft says that affected farmers will not be allowed to "apply to court for the determination of any question relating to compensation".
They cannot challenge the acquisition on the ground that it was discriminatory.
The draft constitution also allows government to continue with its expropriation programme without affected farmers seeking restitution of any form.
"Where agricultural land is required for a public purpose, including settlement for agricultural or other purposes; the land may be acquired by the State by notice published in the Government Gazette by the acquiring authority and identifying the land, whereupon the land vests in the State with full title with effect from the date of publication of the notice" the draft constitution says.
According to a new draft constitution presented to President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube, the white farmers are to receive no form of compensation for the seized land.
The Financial Gazette's Companies & Markets reported last week that the white commercial farmers had submitted a US$10 billion bill for land expropriated by government under the agrarian reforms, although government had previously insisted that it would pay only for developments on the farms.
The draft also stipulates that courts would not be allowed to entertain any appeals from the farmers seeking compensation for their seized land.
The Agricultural Recovery and Compensation, a unit of the Commercial Farmers Union, is demanding US$10 billion compensation from the government for land seized from white farmers, C&M reported last week.
"The Government of Zimbabwe has no obligation to pay compensation for agricultural land compulsorily acquired for resettlement," a copy of the draft seen by C&M said.
The draft says that affected farmers will not be allowed to "apply to court for the determination of any question relating to compensation".
They cannot challenge the acquisition on the ground that it was discriminatory.
The draft constitution also allows government to continue with its expropriation programme without affected farmers seeking restitution of any form.
"Where agricultural land is required for a public purpose, including settlement for agricultural or other purposes; the land may be acquired by the State by notice published in the Government Gazette by the acquiring authority and identifying the land, whereupon the land vests in the State with full title with effect from the date of publication of the notice" the draft constitution says.
Source - allafrica.com
