Zim authorities plan major swoop on farm invaders

Ndakaziva Majaka  

The Zimbabwe Government says it will swoop on farm invaders, and implored former commercial farmers without offer letters to “formalise operations”.

In a joint statement regarding the country’s US$3, 5 billion Global Compensation Agreement on Monday, ministers Professor Mthuli Ncube (Finance) and Dr Anxious Masuka (Agriculture) said the invasions “should stop forthwith”.

Some individuals have been allocating themselves land illegally after authorities in Harare began resizing farms, while others are targeting “idle” property.

The Global Compensation Agreement will facilitate compensation of former commercial farmers who were displaced during the Land Reform Programme.

The compensation covers farm improvements only.

A number of commercial farmers who were allowed to stay put are required to secure offer letters before applying for 99-year leases.  

The statement reads, in part: “…Illegal farm occupations are taking place in complete disregard of offer letters which Government has issued to the affected farmers.

“Such disorderly behaviour among our citizens is indiscipline of the highest level which Government does not condone or tolerate.”