New Farmers must be thankful

If there is a group of people that must be eternally grateful to the government of Zimbabwe, it must be none other than the new farmers. The government has done tremendous favours for them since the land reform programme started off in 2000.

The new farmers got the farms free of charge with some acquiring farms exceeding the stipulated maximum size of an A2 model. Yet others preyed on the loopholes in the affirmative programme to acquire more than one farms. The government is now pleading with the multiple farm owners to surrender some for the benefit of others on the infinite waiting list. It appears nobody is taking heed of the call.

When the land reform started, some of our youths who now are equipped with the necessary diplomas and degrees in agriculture, were still very young to acquire farms. It was only those unscrupulous beneficiaries who fraudulently acquired land for their minors, some as young as 10. These skilled youngmen are in need of land and they have the necessary proficiency to make Zimbabwe re-emerge as the bread-basket of the region. We need serious farmers who can ensure food security in the country.

Those who are holding on to many farms must know that they are posing a security threat to the nation. It will be a cause for another Chimurenga in the future, as these youths will demand equitable distribution of national resources. After all, land issue was the major source that drove many people to join the liberation struggle.

The government through the Reserve Bank went on to provide the farmers with mechanised equipment to improve productivity on the farms. The US$200 million farm mechanisation scheme was on a rent-to-buy basis but very few beneficiaries have paid a cent. Some of the farmers got the equipment but never used it for the intended purposes. They sold the equipment and inputs for quick money. The relevant authorities must make sure that the state money is recouped.

The only way that these farmers can show gratitude to government is through repaying the loans for the mechanised equipment and other agricultural inputs advanced to them in good faith.

It's now the farmers' turn to save the nation by producing on their farms. In Shona they say chirere mangwana chizokurerawo.  Some farmers have not been productive for the 13 year period of land reform. Our economy used to be anchored by agriculture and it is the new farmer that can revive the agro-based economy of this country. To make matters worse, they still expect government to provide them with inputs. Our economy cannot sustain eternal spoon-feeding of farmers.
 
Strangely, some farmers have managed to buy SUVs with the proceeds from their farms yet they still want the government to provide them with free inputs.
Those who cannot produce must be booted out of the farms regardless of their social statuses. With the incumbent minister, at least there is a ray of hope that the mess in the land reform will be redressed. We heard him talking about the anomalies where 10 year-olds were allocated farms. It is everybody's hope that his zeal will not die out. I would like to believe that Zimbabweans are even prepared to pay a levy for the land audit, as long as it will bring a stop to the challenges in the land reform.

Dr Douglas Mombeshora's proposal to introduce rentals for farms could not have come at a better time. After all what government has done for farmers, it's now the farmers' turn to. These rentals will benefit the farmers. Motorists are paying toll fees which are largely used for road construction and maintenance. All this benefit the motorists. Farmers will also benefit from the rentals of farms.

It's obvious that some farmers will complain about the rent but as the Permanent Secretary of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Willard Manungo said, the farmers who will not be able to raise the rent over 12 months are not productive on the farms. Mr Gershom Pasi must also start considering taxing this sector. I have no beef with farmers for I am one.