Land reform irreversible- ED

Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Reporter

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has reiterated that the country’s land reform programme is irreversible and further called on farmers to remain focused in preparation for the 2020-21 farming season.

The President’s sentiments come after sections of the media recently took the recent conclusion of the Global Compensation Deed between the Government of Zimbabwe and former farm owners as moves to reverse the land reform programme.

Speaking at the Principles executive meeting of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) meeting on Friday, the President said the agreement with the former farm owners was a fulfillment of the provisions of the country’s constitution.

“Let me re-state that the Land Reform Programme is irreversible. To this there is no vacillation. The current processes with regard to land issues entail the implementation of provisions of our national constitution, in particular, Section 295 as it relates to black indigenous Zimbabweans.

“I urge all farmers to remain focused on preparing for a successful 2020-2021 (farming) season,” said the President.

He noted that the recently launched Agricultural and Food Systems Transformation Strategy is a composite plan that seeks to achieve a US$8,5 billion agriculture economy by 2025.

“Support has been heightened to enhance production as evidenced by the hype created by the Pfumvudza concept across the country which aims at climate proofing our agricultural production at the communal level in search of household food security.

“In an effort to avoid further imports of grain, various initiatives are being implemented such as the Belarus, John Deere and Brazilian agricultural equipment facilities to support mechanization of the sector and use of the country’s abundant water facilities,” said the Presidents.