Reports this week that white former commercial farmers who lost land after Government embarked on the fast-track land reform programme in 2000 that directly benefited over 300 000 families, have started receiving compensation, should not go unnoticed.
The story that Zimbabwe took away land “belonging’’ to white former commercial farmers without compensation made headlines in local, regional and international media for the past one and a half decades.
This means the matter is an emotive one to all the stakeholders. This compensation, however, comes against the backdrop of liquidity challenges that have seen people — including farmers — failing to withdraw money to finance their operations after selling their produce.
Surely, our Government that saw it logical as per its promise, to extend compensation to former land holders, should be saluted, even by the rattling Western community.
Yes, there is no regret that the Government took away land from descendants of the white former colonisers and gave this national heritage to the rightful owners so that they enjoy the fruits of their birthright that had been pillaged from their forebears.
So during this time when Government is using homegrown solutions to raise money for compensation, after the British government reneged on its promise to finance the exercise, there is need for everyone to render the support that Government needs.
Despite national challenges such as serious cash shortage, the effects of the El Nino-induced drought, general decline of the performance of the economy due to the illegal sanctions, Government announced this week that it had started paying for improvements made on farms by the former farmers.
In some cases where the farms were under a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPA) , the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, said compensation would cover both for improvements made on the farm and the land itself.
“In actual fact, compensation of those who lost their land under the land reform programme has already started, but so far only a small number of people have been paid, especially those where evaluations were completed,” he said.
However, he did not disclose how much the first batch of farmers received.
“The compensation will be paid as and when funds are available but we will surely pay and Government is committed to pay,” we quoted Dr Mombeshora in one of our issues last week.
We, therefore, challenge members of the 14 teams of experts dispatched to do farms and equipment evaluation nationwide to execute their mandate beyond reproach.
They should refuse to be corrupted to undervalue or overvalue the properties, because our farmers – the beneficiaries of this noble cause – should contribute significantly towards mobilising the money to compensate the white former farmers.
Overvaluing the properties for the sack of punishing those refusing to offer inducements to the teams is also self-defeating because it will choke the farmers, resulting in reduced production on farms.
As such, a win-win arrangement has to be hammered out for the benefit of the state and the farmers. Over and above money to be raised from properties on farms and some improvements made, we implore our farmers to also clear land rental arrears.
Model A2 beneficiaries would pay $5 per hectare per annum comprising $3 rental plus $2 unit tax. Companies in farming business will pay $10 per hectare.
Model A1 beneficiaries would pay $10 rental per annum plus $5 unit tax with all funds being handed over to Treasury before allocation to relevant ministries.
Surely, we expect the more than 300 000 indigenous people who benefited under the land reform programme, after Government compulsorily acquired land mainly from white former commercial farmers, to cooperate and not to let the Government down.