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Govt urged to compensate dispossessed Zimbabweans
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The Coalition for Market and Liberal Solutions (Comaliso), a liberal think-tank, has called on the government to compensate Zimbabweans dispossessed during past land reforms, following President Emmerson Mnangagwa's recent policy allowing the return of commercial farmland to the free-market system.
The new policy permits beneficiaries of land acquired during the contentious land redistribution program to sell their plots and use them as collateral for bank loans, marking a significant departure from the country's previous land policies. Under the new framework, ownership can only be transferred between "Indigenous Zimbabweans" and requires government approval.
Comaliso welcomed the policy shift but expressed concern over equitable land distribution and compensation for those affected by previous reforms.
"We applaud President Mnangagwa's re-admission of commercial farmland to the free-market value chain but hope that previously dispossessed citizens receive full compensation," Comaliso said in a statement.
The think-tank warned that failing to address land equity could have dire consequences, including desertification and economic stagnation.
"With 60% of Zimbabweans residing on untitled land, delusions of rural land ownership being an exclusive preserve of the President and traditional leaders keep those citizens locked in a vicious circle of poverty, antagonism, anxiety, and subservience," Comaliso noted.
The think-tank stressed the importance of title deeds, which legally define property ownership and transfer rights, as a tool for economic empowerment.
"Preventing the issuance of rural title deeds marginalises communities, stifles agricultural productivity, and hinders economic development. Secure land tenure is critical for rural citizens to invest in their land and adopt modern agricultural practices," the group added.
Comaliso also urged Parliament to reform the Constitution to ensure rural citizens receive the same land rights and title support as their urban and commercial farm counterparts.
"Equitable land distribution and secure tenure are essential for building a prosperous nation," the statement concluded.
The policy shift is seen as an effort to stimulate agricultural productivity and attract investment in Zimbabwe's struggling economy. However, concerns over the exclusion of non-black Zimbabweans from the land market and the potential for bureaucratic delays in land transfers remain contentious issues.
The new policy permits beneficiaries of land acquired during the contentious land redistribution program to sell their plots and use them as collateral for bank loans, marking a significant departure from the country's previous land policies. Under the new framework, ownership can only be transferred between "Indigenous Zimbabweans" and requires government approval.
Comaliso welcomed the policy shift but expressed concern over equitable land distribution and compensation for those affected by previous reforms.
"We applaud President Mnangagwa's re-admission of commercial farmland to the free-market value chain but hope that previously dispossessed citizens receive full compensation," Comaliso said in a statement.
The think-tank warned that failing to address land equity could have dire consequences, including desertification and economic stagnation.
"With 60% of Zimbabweans residing on untitled land, delusions of rural land ownership being an exclusive preserve of the President and traditional leaders keep those citizens locked in a vicious circle of poverty, antagonism, anxiety, and subservience," Comaliso noted.
The think-tank stressed the importance of title deeds, which legally define property ownership and transfer rights, as a tool for economic empowerment.
"Preventing the issuance of rural title deeds marginalises communities, stifles agricultural productivity, and hinders economic development. Secure land tenure is critical for rural citizens to invest in their land and adopt modern agricultural practices," the group added.
Comaliso also urged Parliament to reform the Constitution to ensure rural citizens receive the same land rights and title support as their urban and commercial farm counterparts.
"Equitable land distribution and secure tenure are essential for building a prosperous nation," the statement concluded.
The policy shift is seen as an effort to stimulate agricultural productivity and attract investment in Zimbabwe's struggling economy. However, concerns over the exclusion of non-black Zimbabweans from the land market and the potential for bureaucratic delays in land transfers remain contentious issues.
Source - newsday
