Land Reform “Irreversible”, But 67 BIPPA Farms To Be Returned – Minister Masuka

Government will issue title deeds to more than 380,000 resettled farmers and return 840 indigenous farms to their original owners, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Anxious Masuka has said, insisting the land reform programme will not be reversed.

In a recent statement, Masuka responded in the National Assembly to questions on land, standing in for the Lands Minister as Leader of Government Business.

He said the government had taken an “unprecedented and revolutionary step” to issue title deeds to 360,000 A1 farmers and 23,500 A2 farmers.

The Minister also announced that title deeds would be issued to 10,000 “Matenganyika Farmers” who still hold leases issued before independence, citing the President’s “magnanimity” in directing the move.

On former commercial farmers, Masuka said 409 who are “peacefully co-existing” with land reform beneficiaries would be allowed to purchase their farms or portions thereof. A set-off mechanism would be used for their investments, which “should be compensated, but not the land”.

He added that 840 indigenous farms gazetted at the height of the land reform programme would be returned to their owners.

In addition, 67 farms protected under Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPA) that were gazetted but remain unoccupied would be returned to investors.

Masuka dismissed suggestions that the government was reversing the land reform programme.

“Land was a core grievance against the heinous and minority settler oppressive regime,” Masuka said. “This drove thousands of blacks to wage an armed struggle to liberate ourselves from the shackles of oppression.”

“Now the people are with their land and the land with its masters. Land reform is, therefore, irreversible,” he said.

Masuka’s remarks come amid debate over the future of land tenure, compensation for former farm owners, and the bankability of resettled farms.

Title deeds are seen as key to unlocking financing for A1 and A2 farmers, who currently hold 99-year leases and offer letters.