Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his finance Minister Mthuli Ncube have all but bought into the opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s election promise that former white farmers will urgently need to be compensated for all the improvements on the land they lost during the land resettlement exercise.

Chamisa spoke vividly on the issue of the compensations during his campaigns and emphasised the issue as a priority in the MDC Government.

Said Chamisa, “Our manifesto is clear. The 99-year leases have failed to satisfy the banks. We need a quick land audit followed by title deeds to all resettled farmers. Land freed up by the audit will go to new beneficiaries. All former white farmers must be fully compensated for their losses.”

President Mnangagwa’s government sees the paying of compensation to white farmers as key to mend ties with the West, and has set aside $17.5 million in this year’s budget to that end. The initial payments will target those in financial distress, while full compensation will be paid later.

“The registration process and list of farmers should be completed by the end of April 2019, after which the interim advance payments will be paid directly to former farm owners,” Government said on Monday.

Zimbabweans from different walks of life have condemned the government’s decision to compensate white farmers forcing President Mnangagwa to clarify that he is not paying farmers for the land but for the improvements done on the land. 

President Mnangagwa’s government sees the paying of compensation to white farmers as key to mend ties with the West, and has set aside $17.5 million in this year’s budget to that end. The initial payments will target those in financial distress, while full compensation will be paid later.

“The registration process and list of farmers should be completed by the end of April 2019, after which the interim advance payments will be paid directly to former farm owners,” Government said on Monday.

Said Chamisa, “Our manifesto is clear. The 99-year leases have failed to satisfy the banks. We need a quick land audit followed by title deeds to all resettled farmers. Land freed up by the audit will go to new beneficiaries. All former white farmers must be fully compensated for their losses.”

Zimbabweans from different walks of life have condemned the government’s decision to compensate white farmers forcing Mnangagwa to clarify that he is not paying farmers for the land but for the improvements done on the land.

Watch the video of Chamisa speak on the compensation of the white farmers in 2018: