Zimbabwe to begin $20 million compensation for farmers affected by land grabs in early 2000s

Zimbabwe’s government is set to distribute US$20 million in initial compensation to local black and foreign white farmers whose lands were seized during the controversial land invasions more than two decades ago.

The move, announced by Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube, was part of a broader strategy to restore the country’s agricultural sector and reconcile with those affected by the land reforms.

The compensation followed years of economic decline triggered by the land seizures that took place under the late President Robert Mugabe’s administration.

Thousands of productive farms were taken, predominantly from white farmers whose families had acquired land during the colonial period, often at the expense of black Zimbabweans.

This redistribution policy aimed to address historical injustices but led to a sharp drop in agricultural output, contributing to a significant economic downturn.

According to reports from Africanews, the initial US$20 million compensation would be disbursed to a group of foreign white farmers and 400 local black farmers.

This amount was separate from a larger US$3.5 billion settlement agreement reached in 2020, which was designed to compensate thousands of white Zimbabwean farmers for their losses.

However, progress on that larger settlement had stalled due to Zimbabwe’s ongoing financial difficulties.

The country’s external debt currently stands at US$12 billion, including overdue payments to institutions such as the World Bank and private creditors, complicating efforts to fund compensation agreements and restore financial stability.

The government hoped that this initial payout would help rebuild trust within the agricultural sector and contribute to the country’s economic recovery, particularly in farming, which had long been the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy.

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