Zimbabwe Unveils Tripartite Land Policy to Resolve Farm Disputes and Secure Investor Confidence

Zimbabwe’s government has announced a new land policy designed to resolve outstanding farm disputes, categorising claims into three distinct groups. The move, announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, involves the return of 67 farms protected by bilateral investment promotion and protection agreements (BIPPAs) to foreign investors from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Additionally, 840 farms identified as having been acquired in error during the 2000 land reform will be restored to Black Zimbabwean owners. A third category permits 409 white farmers currently occupying farms alongside beneficiaries to purchase the land or portions thereof through a set-off mechanism linked to compensation for eligible improvements.

Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka told Parliament that the BIPPA process is strictly about resolving outstanding legal obligations relating to investments protected under bilateral agreements. He insisted the measure should not be mistaken for a return to the pre-land reform era. The government maintains that the land redistribution programme that reshaped the countryside after 2000 remains irreversible, framing the new policy as a pragmatic step to address legal complexities and improve relations with international creditors.

The policy distinguishes between competing claims rooted in different legal and historical foundations. The 67 BIPPA-protected farms were designated for compulsory acquisition during land reform but remained unoccupied. Officials state these properties are being returned to investors as Zimbabwe addresses its obligations under those specific treaties. This decision is closely linked to the government’s broader strategy to rebuild relations with Western governments and international lenders, seeking debt relief and renewed access to financing.

The second group comprises 840 farms that officials said were included in the acquisition process in error. These properties are to be restored to their Black Zimbabwean owners. The third group involves 409 white farmers who have remained on farms alongside land reform beneficiaries. Rather than receiving the land back outright, these farmers will be allowed to buy the farms or portions they currently occupy. This approach reflects the complex legacy of the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme, which was formalised after war veterans and ZANU-PF supporters began occupying white-owned farms following the rejection of a constitutional referendum in February 2000.

For former owners, the announcement has revived hopes of regaining access to properties lost more than two decades ago. Michael Kwaramba, a second-generation heir to his family’s estate, said his father suffered after their farm was mistakenly gazetted for compulsory acquisition. Willem Jansen, a Dutch-born Zimbabwean farmer, expressed hope that he will regain his family’s land, noting the broader economic impact of their forced removal on farm workers and nearby villages.

However, the policy has raised concerns among war veterans who fought for land redistribution. Marko Dzingirai, a war veteran, expressed uncertainty about which farms are covered by BIPPAs and questioned whether the changes betray the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle. Milton Gurajena, another veteran, acknowledged that the original occupations were often chaotic and lacked legal clarity, admitting that the process could have been conducted more orderly.

The government also highlighted parallel efforts to stabilise the agricultural sector, including the issuance of title deeds to land reform beneficiaries to enhance tenure security. These measures run alongside the $3.5bn compensation framework for eligible former commercial farmers, agreed in 2020. Zimbabwe began making payments under this framework in 2025, although the government has faced financial constraints in meeting the wider commitment. The new land policy aims to balance these financial realities with the political imperative of addressing historical injustices.