By Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe has announced plans to return 67 foreign-owned commercial farms that were seized during the controversial land reform programme introduced under former President Robert Mugabe.
According to Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka, the farms belonged to foreign nationals from Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, and were protected under bilateral investment agreements signed with Zimbabwe.
The decision forms part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s broader efforts to rebuild relations with Western nations and international financial institutions after years of economic and diplomatic isolation.
Government authorities also revealed that more than 400 white commercial farmers will be allowed to reclaim or repurchase portions of their former land. In addition, around 840 farms belonging to black Zimbabweans are expected to be restored to their original owners.
Zimbabwe’s fast-track land reform programme, launched in the early 2000s, aimed to address colonial-era land ownership imbalances by redistributing land from white commercial farmers to black Zimbabweans. However, the programme also contributed to the collapse of commercial agriculture, severe food shortages, hyperinflation, and a prolonged economic crisis.
The land seizures further strained Zimbabwe’s relationship with Western governments, leading to sanctions and limiting the country’s access to international banking and financial support.
Since taking office in 2017 following Mugabe’s removal, Mnangagwa has sought to normalize relations with global lenders and attract foreign investment. Analysts view the resolution of long-standing land disputes as a crucial step toward debt restructuring and restoring investor confidence.
As of September 2025, Zimbabwe’s external debt stood at approximately $13.6 billion, including $7.7 billion in arrears.
The government also confirmed that former farm owners are set to receive $146 million in compensation. This is separate from the broader $3.5 billion compensation agreement signed in 2020 covering about 4,500 white farmers affected by the land reform programme.
Despite these commitments, Zimbabwe continues to face serious financial challenges, and progress in compensation payments has remained slow.
