INFORMATIONAL RELEASE
(On behalf of the Commercial Farmers’ Union)
Herewith an update as at 17 April 2002 of the current status as regards listing of farms prepared as a community service.
ZIMBABWE LAND DISTRIBUTION BY SECTOR AS AT SEPT 2001
1. Large Scale Commercial Sector (6 000 farms) on 11 020 000 hectares which is 28.2 percent
2. Small Scale Commercial Sector 1 380 000 hectares, which is 3.15 percent
3. The Communal Area is 16 350 000 hectares, which is 41.8 percent
4. Resettlement Area is 3 540 000 hectares, representing 9.1 percent
5. Parks/Forest Land is 6 339 000 hectares in extent, 16.2 percent
6. ARDA (State Farming) comprised 250 000 hectares, which is 0.6 percent
7. Urban Area is 200 000 hectares, which is 0.5 percent
This represent a total of 39 079 000 hectares of land, bringing the percentage to 100%.
1. The Large Scale Commercial Sector, totalling 11 020 000 hectares (approx 6000 farms) is divided up into hectares as follows :
1a Commercial Farmers’ Union Members – 8 595 000 hectares.
1b Indigenous Commercial Farmers Union – 700 000 hectares (approx).
1c Non Members (either Union)- 600 000 hectares (approx).
1d Development Trust of Zimbabwe (Govt of Zim GoZ) – 332 000 hectares.
1e Indigenous/Tenant Schemes/Leases (GoZ) – 470 000 hectares.
1f Cold Storage Company (GoZ)- 211 000 hectares.
1g Forestry Commission (GoZ)- 112 000 hectares.
It is of interest to note that calculations to hand as at September 2001 indicate the following breakdown:
STATE LAND is 27 604 000 hectares, 70.6 percent; PRIVATE LAND is 11 275 000 hectares, 28.9 percent and URBAN LAND is 200 000 hectares, 0.5 percent. A total of 39 079 000 hectares.
The Government of Zimbabwe Land Reform programme has resulted in changes to the above picture. Land has been acquired through notices of acquisition and in some instances, invaders have first arrived on farms, under the ‘Fast track’ programme and then steps have been taken to acquire the farms through legal means available.
Some farms were deemed unsuitable and were then delisted from acquisition, however in November 2001, the Government of Zimbabwe announced its intention to implement Maximum Farm Size regulations and this resulted in the relisting of farms. The results below indicate this shift in policy.
“Listing” refers to the naming of the farm in Government Gazette notices – it is a preliminary notice, Section 5. The following are compulsory acquisition statistics, they represent the changing picture of occupation of land in
Zimbabwe.
As at 01 March 2002, there were 5 648 farms measuring 10 231 950 hectares of land listed for acquisition. On this date there were 706 farms measuring 1 475 378 hectares delisted from acquisition. There were 51 farms, 90 698 hectares that had previously been delisted, relisted for acquisition. This brought the nett figure to 4 526 farms on 8 847 270 hectares of land.
The statistics on compulsory acquisition as at 5 April 2002 are:
5 835 farms listed for acquisition, measuring 10 442 612 hectares. There were 706 farms on 1 475 378 hectares delisted. There were 51 farms, 90 698 hectares that had previously been delisted, relisted for acquisition, bringing the nett listed to 5 180 farms on 9 057 932 hectares.
Statistics on compulsory acquisition as at 17 April 2002 are: Gross listed:
5 849 farms on 10 452 519 hectares. Delisted dropped to 449 farms on 853 900 hectares and the number relisted rocketed up to 343 farms comprising 773 028 hectares. This brings the nett listed to 5 743 farms on 10 371 647 hectares.
Of the 6 000 large scale commercial farms comprising 11 020 000 hectares (28.2% of Zimbabwean land) under threat of acquisition, there remains 151 farms on 567 481 hectares of land not affected by legal notice. To this we could add the delisted land of 449 farms on 853 900 hectares, which still remains in the hands of the original large scale commercial farmer. This brings the percentage of commercial land taken as at 17th April 2002 to 87,1 percent.
We are yet to input figures from Government Gazette weekly issues 26 April to 31st May 2002.
The Commercial Farmers Union reserves the right to check copy for accuracy should you wish to use this information for publication purposes.
Ends
31st May 2002