Demand for land remains high

Takunda Maodza in Masvingo
The number of people waiting to be allocated land under the agrarian reform has slightly declined from 400 000, but demand for the resource remains high as communal areas are still over-populated.

This was revealed by the Zanu-PF department responsible for lands, land reform and agriculture in its latest report to the Central Committee.

“The waiting list has slightly declined from 400 000 for both A1 and A2 applications throughout the provinces. The party and the ministry continue to receive new applications for land. Evidence shows that communal areas are still over-populated,” reads part of the report.

“The foregoing clearly shows that demand for land remains high. It is therefore necessary to continue with the land acquisition and redistribution exercise.

“The Land Reform Programme has seen over 350 000 households being resettled under both A1 and A2 models. Many Zimbabweans have gone into full-time agriculture that has transformed their economic situations.”

The department notes an increase in participation by small and medium enterprises in agro-based manufacturing industries.

This, it says, widened the economic base, increasing participation by indigenous companies in agro-processing.

Zimbabwe has nearly 40 million hectares of land, with 33 million ha reserved for agriculture and the remainder for national parks, forests and urban settlement.

The department also highlights: “Accessing loans from banks has been a major challenge as banks are not yet recognising the 99-year leases as collateral security while others are offering short loans.” It reveals how some land reform beneficiaries are sub-letting properties to white former commercial farmers as they do not have capital to engage in serious farming.

It recommends that Zanu-PF and Government come up with a long term agricultural financing plan to cover all classes of farmers, and urges Government to prosecute farmers who are reluctant to move from acquired land.

Further, the department implores Government to speedily issue security of tenure documents like 99-year leases and A1 permits.