KEY POINTS
- Zimbabwe allows land reform beneficiaries to sell their properties.
- New tenure certificates will provide secure, transferable land ownership.
- The government aims to boost agricultural investment and urban development.
The Zimbabwean government has announced a major policy shift allowing beneficiaries of the 2000 land reform programme to sell their properties.
The new policy will issue bankable, registrable, and transferable tenure certificates to these landowners, enhancing their security and unlocking economic value.
New policy for land reform beneficiaries
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is prioritizing economic empowerment for marginalized groups such as war veterans, women, and the disabled.
Under the new policy, beneficiaries of the land reform will receive tenure documents allowing them to transfer or sell the land among indigenous Zimbabweans. The government has indefinitely suspended the issuance of new 99-year leases and agricultural land permits.
Information Minister Jenfan Muswere explained that these changes aim to increase agricultural productivity, unlock resources, and improve Zimbabwe’s economic standing.
In addition, the government is determined to fulfill its constitutional obligations regarding land reform and foster investment in infrastructure such as dams, power, and rural roads.
Urban land and commercial development
The authorities will now make urban land available to approved developers with the capacity to enhance its value. Furthermore, the focus is on building high-quality housing developments to achieve the government’s vision of an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
According to New Zimbabwe, areas not in use within cities will be repurposed for urban development, with priority given to urban renewal and transformation projects.
However, to oversee these initiatives, Mnangagwa has formed a Cabinet Oversight Committee led by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri. A technical committee will establish to coordinate the implementation of the land tenure system.
Addressing challenges in land ownership
The new policy aims to resolve several challenges faced by farmers, including access to financing and the absence of secure land tenure. However, without security, many farmers have been hesitant to invest in their properties.
The new certificates will also help resolve inheritance issues and protect land ownership for the next generation.
Moreover, by tackling the debt issues plaguing many farmers and curbing the influence of land barons, the government seeks to ensure a fair and transparent land market.
Muswere reaffirmed that the land reform programme remains irreversible and that the government will continue to uphold the rights of beneficiaries while promoting farming as a business.
