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Farmers' organization skeptical about government's 99-year leases
Tererai Karimakwenda, SW Radio Africa
November 07, 2006

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news071106/farmers071106.htm

The State controlled media outlets reported Saturday that the government will begin to issue 99-year land leases to resettled black farmers under the new fast track land reform scheme. According to The Herald newspaper Robert Mugabe will preside over the festivities at a special ceremony Thursday where the first of these 99-year leases will be issued.

The government says the idea is to give security of tenure to the so-called A2 farmers. But Justice for Agriculture (JAG), which represents evicted white farmers, say this appears to be a scheme to raise much needed funds for agriculture, and it may only benefit those who are politically correct and political chefs. John Worsley Worswick of JAG said it is unlikely that white farmers who have been encouraged to apply will receive any offer letters.

Worswick said the latest information they have is that the government cannot issue a legal document on property that has been downsized. This means only those who are still occupying entire farms that were not sub-divided are eligible, "..and we all know the only people who still have their whole farms are those who are politically correct and political chefs," said Worswick.

Commercial farmers in Zimbabwe have been finding it extremely difficult to raise capital for their operations because there was no guarantee that they would still be on their land come harvest time or the following season. The remaining white farmers are also still under pressure to vacate their properties. Worswick believes the new security of tenure scheme is simply a government ploy to open up channels of financing and attract investors. He said a new tenure system "cannot be born out of a huge illegality." The government evicted white farmers on shaky legal foundations and a very small number of them have been compensated for their loss.

The way Worswick sees it, the government’s intention is to drive off the remaining farmers and pass new, pending legislation, which will remove all loopholes for white farmers.

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