MP exposes roadside farming as Zimbabwe's land crisis bites

Mberengwa North MP Tinashe Shumba has raised concern in Parliament over the increasing number of farmers cultivating beans along roadsides, warning that the practice reflects growing land scarcity decades after the country's land reform programme.

He said the situation points to unresolved pressure on agricultural land and urged government to address the needs of landless citizens.

Responding to the concerns, Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka said roadside farming is illegal and advised affected individuals to follow formal land application procedures through district and provincial structures.

The exchange triggered further questions from other MPs, who argued that the prevalence of informal cultivation highlights persistent gaps in land access.

Minister Masuka maintained that government policy requires all land applicants to be processed through established administrative channels, noting that most available land has already been allocated following the fast-track land reform programme.

He added that recent policy emphasis has shifted toward land audits and the issuance of title deeds, aimed at improving security of tenure and addressing underutilisation.

The debate comes against the backdrop of Zimbabwe's land reform programme launched in 2000, which redistributed millions of hectares to hundreds of thousands of households but continues to face criticism over productivity challenges and uneven utilisation.

Officials maintain that while redistribution has largely been completed, ongoing reforms are now focused on consolidation, accountability and improved agricultural productivity.