Govt limits size of farms(07-12-06)

HARARE - The Zimbabwean Government has announced maximum sizes for commercial farms, and says that any farm, which exceeds the limit, will be sub-divided into smaller plots.
The new regulations apply to those remaining white-owned farms, which have not already been listed for government seizure.

The government says that in rich, arable farming areas, no property can exceed 250 hectares (2.5 sq.km). And on poorer land used for cattle ranching, the limit is now 2,000 hectares (20 sq.km).
Agriculture Minister Joseph Made said the new maximum size regulations have been introduced with immediate effect. Many white farmers own farms of several thousand acres in size.
According to a Zanu (PF) report compiled by the ruling party’s commissariat department, there are 72 white farmers remaining under the A2 scheme and operating on 927 farms.
“Their case is being considered and they will be given offer letters, which will be followed by 99-year leases. Those who fail to get offer letters will have their farms given to indigenous land seekers,” says the audit report prepared by Elliot Manyika, the ruling party’s political commissar.
The report claims that much of the land owned by white farmers is not being effectively used. But economists warn that the new regulations – if enforced – would destroy the viability of some of Zimbabwe’s most productive farms. The move comes hard on the heels of new laws, the Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Bill which government wants to use to force off the few remaining white farmers off their land.
Last week, Mugabe told the 199th ordinary session of the Zanu (PF) Politburo that the main opposition party and white farmers were terrorists, and said the British Government have been funding terrorism in Zimbabwe. Britain maintains the accusation is absurd.

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