Chissano wades into Zim, farmers US$3.5bn war

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

Former commercial farmers who lost property during the violent land reform programme at the turn of the millennium have taken the fight to regional bodies to find a solution to their long wait to get compensation.

The push to get the US$3.5bn compensation comes as the government has placed the compensation agenda on the table in the high level talks involving Zimbabwe and its creditors. Former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano and African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina co-chair the talks.

The government has presented fresh proposals to the now sceptical and distressed former farmers who will now have to table a new proposal on Treasury instruments at their conference.

This paper heard this week the former farm owners will approach the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) which is an agricultural interest network for farmers by farmers, which is committed to the protection and promotion of the rights, values, ideals and needs of family farmers in the primary production sector.

“We will see how SAAI will react to the Zimbabwean case,” a source privy to developments said.

The SAAI will not take a percentage of the full package that is being sought with the former farm owners only paying R100 per month or less for those that cannot afford, insiders said this week.

Finance and Economic Development deputy minister Clemence Chiduwa told Business Times that the compensation agenda will involve a high-powered delegation and will also include regional leaders.

“This week we had a meeting with the former farmers together with a high-powered delegation and this is where we can map the way forward and find a lasting solution to the issue,” Chiduwa said.

The Land Tenure and the compensation of the former farmer’s owners including the resolution of Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements were among the hot topics that Chissano will mediate.

“Government has submitted a copy of the proposed treasury instruments which will be used to compensate the former farm owners for their consideration. We understand that the former farmers are going to a conference where they will come up with their position which they will share with us,” a government insider said last night.

“The Treasury will make an announcement once we make final agreements with the former farm owners.

Earlier this year, the government proposed a new plan to compensate white ex-farmers with authorities saying they will issue commercial paper into the market in a frantic attempt to fund its US$3.5bn compensation deal.

In 2020, the government agreed to compensate the former farm owners in phases and the first instalment of US$1.75bn was supposed to be paid in 2021 and the balance paid in four equal instalments of US$437.5m per year.

Treasury has been shifting goalposts on several occasions much to the chagrin of the former farm owners fear age may not be on the side and many are pushing for immediate action for Zimbabwe to meet its side of the bargain.

However, the farmers are not happy with the government’s behaviour.