UN Comes Out in Favour of Land Reform Process
The Herald (Harare)
February 20, 2002
Posted to the web February 20, 2002
Tim Chigodo
NOW that there is a general consensus that land is at the core of
Zimbabwe's problems, it is only prudent that the issue is hastily funded
and resolved.
The irreversible issue, which has already driven a wedge between Zimbabwe
and its former colonial master, Britain, is aimed at economically
empowering the disadvantaged landless black masses.
According to a recent report by the United Nations Development Programme,
families getting land under the Government's resettlement programme would
certainly gain substantial asset base which will improve their welfare.
The mission, which was in Zimbabwe to review the country's land reform
programme in November last year, noted that peasants resettled in the 1980s
had achieved higher crop yields, higher incomes and a higher level of well-
being than those in crowded communal areas.
The 55-page report highly commended the Government for providing $3 billion
for land acquisition and infrastructural development under the Public
Sector Investment Programme in the 2002 national budget. The amount was 50
percent more than the 2001 budget allocation.
"Given that Zimbabwe still has the highest levels of poverty in sub-Saharan
Africa, the land reform programme needs to be implemented in a manner that
will generate substantial increases in per capita income," the report said.
Evidence from resettlement programmes in the eighties suggests that
families can improve their welfare. Community support and participation
would also enhance their prospects. The report, however, says improvements
in welfare on a per capita basis would depend on whether family size
changes or not.
It should also not be overlooked that a drought would make the task of
earning a higher income much more difficult, particularly in an environment
in which off-farm income is scarce because of the weak economy.
The UNDP mission recommended the establishment of an independent trust fund
under its management to guarantee adequate funding and to mobilise various
sources of support.
Infrastructure
The fund would provide resources for the resettlement process, including
basic infrastructure on acquired land, equipment and tools, extension
services as well as training and support to capacity building and technical
assistance to the Government.
It would also provide direct compensation to farmers for land acquired for
resettlement and improvement, including infrastructure, as well as support
for displaced farm workers.
Although the report does not give figures for the proposed fund, the land
reform programme was initially expected to cost over $40 billion in 1999.
The figure is likely to be reviewed after the endorsement of the UNDP
report by the Government.
The mission acknowledged that the Government has the right to acquire land
in the public interest and carry out the land reform programme.
It recognised fully and appreciated the historical, social and political
imperatives that have defined the need for land reform in Zimbabwe and set
the pace for its implementation over the years.
The report says there are many problems which the Government needs to
resolve if the programme is to be efficiently and environmentally
sustainable. The exercise was being hampered by suspicion and lack of
information among the main stakeholders.
Such an atmosphere had polarised the perception of land reform as a
simplistic two-party battle between the Government and the large-scale
commercial farmers, with all other stakeholders reduced to spectators in a
wait-and-see attitude.
"However, an essential prerequisite in the process of property acquisition
by the State is the principle of fair compensation for land and
improvements. Even the clearing and the physical development of soil is an
improvement that needs to be given due weight in determining improved land
values," says the report.
The Government has made it clear that it will not pay for land as this was
seized from the blacks without compensation by the white settlers. It will,
however, pay for improvements, which include the buildings.
Over 400 000 families have already been resettled on land acquired by the
Government from minority white commercial farmers. The new farmers, who
expected a bumper harvest, have had their hopes dampened by the impending
drought.
At independence in 1980, Zimbabwe inherited a racially skewed system of
ownership of land. Under the system, the large-scale commercial farmers,
consisting of 1 percent of the population, occupied 45 percent of the
agricultural land. Another 6,3 million hectares were mainly public lands
reserved for national parks and urban settlements.
More than half of the large-scale commercial farms were in the areas of the
country with high rainfall, where the potential for agricultural production
was high. Over 35 percent of the large-scale farming land was either not
being utilised or underutilised.
Translocated
Indigenous populations were translocated to marginal lands in the
predominantly low-potential agricultural zones. The independence war was
mainly fought for majority rule and land, resulting in more than 500 000
people perishing in the protracted war.
Food security in the country became serious during the period from 2000 to
2001 due to the vagaries of weather, especially the lingering impact of
Cyclone Eline in 1999-2000, and the erratic rainy season of 2000-2001.
The cyclone left a trail of destruction of property, crops and livestock.
Several people were displaced by the cyclone-induced floods.
The HIV/Aids epidemic has also compounded the problem by reducing
productivity on the farms. A crisis in itself, the epidemic amplifies the
current humanitarian crisis across sectors of the economy.
The impact of HIV/Aids is exacerbated by pervasive poverty and poor
nutrition in the rural areas.
The UNDP report said that substantial social and humanitarian problems were
likely to face the fast-track resettlement exercise.
The scourge presented Zimbabwe with one of its most formidable constraints
to sustainable development. The events had resulted in two consecutive
seasons of poor agricultural production in the most vulnerable areas of the
country.
The UNDP mission called for deliberate efforts in management of the land
reform and resettlement process to anticipate and plan for the very
seriously affected and vulnerable populations that is evident in the rural
areas of the country.
The matter is particularly crucial for farm workers, women and for people
directly and indirectly affected by the devastation of the HIV/Aids
epidemic among farming communities.
Failure to take the necessary steps is bound to compound the poverty and
food insecurity crisis already looming in the country. The disease is
already taking away 2 000 lives a week.
In an effort to lessen the suffering of those affected by the disease,
including orphans, the Government has introduced an Aids levy to cushion
them during difficult times.
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