Online Reporter
Tawanda Musarurwa
NINETY-THREE Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (BIPPA)-protected farms have now received compensation from the Government, with 16 fully paid up and 77 receiving partial payments, as the authorities press ahead with a US$130,5 million programme covering claimants from five nations.
The latest report on the Structured Dialogue Platform’s Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process shows the Netherlands as the largest beneficiary, with 44 farms — six fully compensated and 38 partially paid — receiving US$20,1 million.
Switzerland follows with 27 farms (four fully paid and 23 partially compensated) worth US$11,9 million, while Germany’s claimants have received US$4,8 million across 14 farms.
Denmark’s seven farms — all partially paid — account for US$2,8 million, and a single farm linked to the former Yugoslavia has received US$400 000.
The payments cover farmers from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the former Yugoslavia whose properties were affected during the 2000 Fast-Track Land Reform Programme.
The compensation process began in May 2024 when the Government invited applications from BIPPA farmers affected by the Land Reform Programme. The Land Compensation Committee subsequently verified and approved the claims.Initially, 97 farms were deemed to be eligible for compensation, but four, which had not been occupied, were later withdrawn after their owners opted for restoration of title. Overall, the 93 farms had a combined claim worth US$130,5 million.
Ten farms worth US$1,9 million were fully compensated during the 2024 cycle.
Last year, six more farms totalling US$2,3 million received full compensation, taking the tally of fully paid farms to 16, with 77 more receiving partial payments.
The Government has structured the arrangement so that the yearly Treasury allocation for BIPPA compensation is shared equally among qualifying claimants.
The formula was agreed through the Land Tenure Reforms, the Compensation of Former Farm Owners (FFOs) process and the Resolution of the BIPPAs Sector Working Group. While US$40 has already been paid, the Government allocated a further US$20 million in the 2026 National Budget for the programme.
It has, however, committed to clearing the remaining US$70,5 million owed to BIPPA-protected investors through annual allocations in the 2027 and 2028 budgets.
Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Willard Manungo, who is the co-chairperson of the Land Reforms Pillar of the Structured Dialogue Platform’s Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process, said the payments indicate that Zimbabwe was committed to “honouring international agreements”.
“The consistent fulfilment of our farmer compensation obligations serves as a clear testament to the world that Zimbabwe is a reliable partner committed to honouring international agreements,” Dr Manungo said.
“This momentum creates the necessary credibility for our full reintegration into the global financial architecture, unlocking new windows for investment and restoring our standing within the international community.”
The compensation programme has also become one of the central pillars of Zimbabwe’s broader Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process, where land reform, economic reforms and governance reforms are being pursued in parallel to rebuild confidence with international creditors and investors. Together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff-Monitored Programme, governance reforms and efforts to clear arrears with international financial institutions, the compensation framework is intended to demonstrate Zimbabwe’s commitment to honouring its constitutional and international obligations — a key step towards restoring access to concessional finance, restructuring external debt and reintegrating the country into the global financial system.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative Dr Ayodele Odusola, who is also co-chairperson of the Land Reforms Pillar, welcomed the Government’s re-engagement drive.
“UNDP has seen Zimbabwe’s land dialogue shift from entrenched positions to constructive engagement among Government, farmers and stakeholders,” Dr Odusola said.
He also commended milestones such as the 1 percent cash and coupon payments worth US$10 million under the Global Compensation Deed (GCD), as well as the 12,5 percent stake in Kuvimba Mine set aside for white former farm owners.
“Land reform remains central to agricultural transformation, food security and unlocking long-term financing for Zimbabwe’s development,” he said.
A Danish BIPPA-protected farmer, Ms Lisa Nislev, described the moment she received her payment as “unbelievable”.
The first two partial payments, she said, brought her mother “a sense of relief and closure after many years of uncertainty”.
Similarly, former Switzerland Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Stéphanie Rey, who previously served on the Land Reform Pillar, described the compensation programme as historic.
“The results are formidable. What we have achieved collectively, and what the Government of Zimbabwe has delivered, is nothing short of historic,” he said.
Payments to white former commercial farmers
The Government has also committed to compensate white former commercial farmers through the GCD, a US$3,5 billion agreement signed in July 2020 to compensate for infrastructural improvements on land acquired during the 2000 Fast-Track Land Reform Programme.
Under the framework, the claimants receive a cash payment of 1 percent of the agreed compensation amount, with the remaining 99 percent paid in Treasury Bonds carrying maturities of one to 10 years and a 2 percent coupon paid twice annually, all denominated in United States dollars.
As of June 10 this year, 965 applications had been approved for compensation under the GCD, with further farms at various stages of the application and verification process.
Batch 1, comprising 378 farms, received its 1 percent upfront payment and Treasury Bonds in April 2025 and has since received two Treasury Bond interest payments plus the maturity value of its one-year bonds.
Batch 2’s 245 farms were paid in October 2025 and have received one interest payment, while Batch 3’s 253 farms were paid in March 2026 and are due their first interest payment in September.
Batch 4, consisting of 89 farms, is still awaiting its upfront payment and bond issuance, while a fifth batch of applications remains under review.
According to the chairperson of the Compensation Steering Committee, Mr Andrew Pascoe, the Government has met all its commitments since payments began in March last year.
“Since payments began in March 2025, Government has met all its commitments,” Mr Pascoe said.
“Whilst there have been many challenges in ensuring that the payment processes run smoothly, align with Government protocols and meet the required timelines, I am happy to report that we have been able to work together with our counterparts in Government to overcome these challenges.”
