There have been mixed feelings about the Zimbabwean government’s stance in compensating farmers who were muscled out of their farms over ten years ago by the previous administration.
A farmer and the president of the National African Farmers Union (Nafu), Motsepe Matlala, said as someone with knowledge of Zimbabwean agriculture, the move by the government is the correct one, however, there is a need to unify farmers of all races to produce food for the Zimbabwean population.
“From the historical perspective, it is only fair that the farmers be compensated for the losses incurred from their farms but not for the land because the land they have found it there. Secondly, in terms of stability considering the economy of Zimbabwe, it is fair to say the matter needs to be settled so the sector can be stable.”
Government on the right path
“I do not think it is wrong for the government to compensate the farmers. I think once this is settled and the confidence is brought back for the sake of the economy, we are likely going to see the sector in Zimbabwe flourishing again,” he said.
Matlala noted that should Zimbabwe become stable in terms of food production, it will boost the region’s food productivity and ensure that trades among neighbouring countries are realised and increase job creation.
“I was personally in Zimbabwe at the time when farms were taken away. I was there for two months and saw what was happening, and it really was something that touched many hearts because the livestock there paid the price. There was nothing for them to eat, it was a bad situation.
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“At the time, people who were given the land were not actually farming but were building shacks in the middle of a fertile farm. But now we see in recent times that farmers in the country are farming and utilising the land which is something we are proud to see,” he said.
Meanwhile, Steve Sikwane who trades in Zimbabwe, said the country’s government needs to empower farmers instead of compensating those no longer farming.
‘Improve the lives of small-scale farmers’
“I believe that the move will not deal with the hunger and poverty in Zimbabwe. That money can be used to capacitate farmers who are mainly small-scale to become commercial and give them the necessary skills and funding to run their farming operations.
“Zimbabwe is in need of farmers who will produce food for the nation. The land is there but because of disasters like drought, those farmers are unable to work the land. That is why [the] government need to focus on farmer development to ensure a stable food supply,” he said.
Sikwane called on stakeholders in Zimbabwe, especially organised agriculture, to engage the government to improve the lives of farmers.
“Being a farmer in Zimbabwe is the most frustrating thing there. The government needs to focus on farmers who are struggling but willing to work the land under difficult circumstances and those farmers are there in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Agbiza senior economist Wandile Sihlobo said South Africa exported 44 000 tonnes of maize last week of which about 57% was exported to Zimbabwe.
The chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society, Dr Andrew Matibiri, added that the country and the sector were still waiting on policymakers to chart a way forward.
“At the moment we do not have clear outlines of how the proposals will be implemented, our policymakers should direct us,” he said.
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