1. COMPENSATING FOR COMPULSORILY AQUIRED LAND: CRITICAL QUESTIONS

I will start by setting the record straight. This thread:

is NOT arguing against land reform
is NOT arguing against compensation of losers

It’s about fairness - distribution of
costs & benefits of reform

2. Today the Govt of Zimbabwe entered into agreement to compensate commercial farmers who lost land following the fast-track land reform of the early 2000s. Compensation will be for developments to land, not the land itself.

What does this mean for the average Zimbabweans?

3. Well, the Government has just agreed, on behalf of all Zimbabwean taxpayers, that they owe Commercial farmers who lost their land some money in compensation for the development they made to the land.

Govts don’t make money, it’s citizens who work and pay taxes.

Is this fair?

4. Well those who lost land will claim it’s fair, they are getting back investment they made to make the land productive.

How about those paying for the compensation - is it fair?

To understand answer this question, we must understand first who benefited from the improvements?

5. Zim is a country of ~ 16 million people. Not every one of them has access to acquired land or benefit from its improvement. Only a few who received the land have benefited or are benefiting from the improvements.

It cannot therefore be just that all taxpayers are now in debt?

6. The cost of compensation for the improvements should sit with the beneficiaries of the fast-track land reform. They benefited!

This is what every Zimbabwean must be demanding right now. Otherwise we are all being asked to pay for benefits that have accrued to a select few.

7. This is “Farm Mechanisation Prog Mk2” - SCANDAL!!

It stinks!

There is also a question: who will ultimately receive compensation money?

One must understand a lot of commercial farms, like any businesses, were highly indebted. Their farms were mortgaged againt their debt!

8. Many commercial farmers had long anticipated the time would come when they will lose their land. The issue of compulsory acquisition had long been talked about prior to fast-track land reform.

They hedged by taking on debt against their farm title. When pushed they move on!!

9. Leaving Govt of Zimbabwe to sort out the mess with the banks. That is how many were quick to uproot to pastures anew. They had long prepared for it!

So a lot, if not most of the compensation, will go to banks to release title deeds?

But release title deeds to who?

10. This is a question that must exercise every Zimbabwean.

Zimbabwean taxpayers cannot bear the costs of acquisition for rights that will be delivered to a select few. That is unjust! It is grossly unjust!

Most of the beneficiaries have destroyed the improvements already

11. Tomorrow I will do another thread showing how this matter should be dealt with - for fairness!

@MthuliNcube @edmnangagwa @BusisaMoyo @SaltLight74 @MlamboProf @shingaiRndoro @baba_nyenyedzi @OpenParlyZw @gmurapa @ZEPARU1 @Wamagaisa @TrevorNcube @freemanchari @NicolaWatson13

12. For the record, my views on this matter are informed by 20 years of careful study of Zimbabwe land questions? I have drawn on lessons from other countries - Asia, Latin America.

If govt consulted on its policies Zim will be a better place! We are here to help!!!