HARARE, Zimbabwe — On Friday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa introduced a new policy that permits individuals who benefited from the land reforms, which involved the transfer of land from white owners, to sell their land and use it as collateral for loans from financial institutions.
This development signifies a substantial alteration in the land regulations of Zimbabwe. Under the previous framework, farmers who were resettled after the land reforms implemented in 2000 were prohibited from transferring land ownership.
Under the newly established policy, land rights can only be transferred among individuals identified as “Indigenous Zimbabweans,” referring specifically to the Black population of Zimbabwe, and all transactions must receive government endorsement.
The controversial land reforms initiated by former President Robert Mugabe led to thousands of Black individuals occupying white-owned farms, justifying these actions as a necessary redress of colonial injustices that historically confined Zimbabwe’s fertile land to a minority of white individuals.
Despite these reforms, the new Black farmers were left unable to sell or transfer the land, which was classified as state property. Consequently, banks showed hesitance in providing loans to these resettled farmers, who found themselves unable to use their land as financial collateral.
At a recent event held on his farm close to Kwekwe city, Mnangagwa personally received title deeds for the land he occupies, alongside a select group of farmers.
Additionally, he shared the creation of a technical committee dedicated to facilitating the acquisition of title deeds for other resettled Black farmers.
During his address, Mnangagwa expressed that this policy change would “unlock the value” of the land, rendering it “bankable and transferable,” thereby improving the economic prospects for farmers.
Over 4,500 white farmers were forcibly removed from their properties over two decades ago, often facing violence from groups led by veterans of Zimbabwe’s war of independence.
Reports from Human Rights Watch indicate that some farmers and their workers sustained severe injuries or even lost their lives amid the chaos marked by beatings and sexual violence.
The land seizures severely disrupted commercial agriculture, ultimately forcing Zimbabwe, once a key food producer and exporter in the region, to rely heavily on international aid. The agricultural sector has shown signs of recovery in recent years, although drought conditions continue to pose significant threats.
One of the primary issues has been access to financing, which Mnangagwa aims to address through the issuance of title deeds to Black farmers.
He emphasized that secure land tenure would allow farmers to access credit facilities, thus helping many transition from poverty to prosperity.
In October, the Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube, announced plans for Zimbabwe to compensate both local and foreign white farmers who lost land and property due to the government-led expropriations.