The ManicaPost
Blessing Rwizi Post Correspondent
PUBLIC hearing on the proposed Land Commission Bill drew mixed reactions among stakeholders in Manicaland, with some calling for the swift downsizing of unproductive and idle farms.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture and Irrigation Development conducted a public hearing in Mutare last Thursday where those present gave contrasting views on the proposed Land Commission Bill.
A delegation of 20 legislators met with more than 100 residents, with discussion focusing on the country’s intended move towards weeding out multiple farm owners.
Mrs Josephine Dube of Dangamvura-Chikanga Constituency said the proposed law would bring confusion in the farming sector.
“The Land Commission Bill is only being set to bring confusion within the farming community. The intention is to take what belongs to us. We fought the war so that we become land owners and the hectarage of land that we were allocated to us should not be a matter for debate,” she said.
Mrs Dube added that those allocated bigger farms should cede part of it to future generations.
“We will leave it for our children and generations to come until each gets a piece of land. I disagree with the idea of dividing our land and giving it to others,” said Mrs Dube.
Her sentiments were echoed by Mr Lovemore Chitima who added that farmers face a number of hurdles, including low productivity, climate change, limited access to markets and access to finance.
While agriculture remains key to the economy, employing about 60 percent of the population, bank lending that goes to the agricultural sector is not worth mentioning.
It also demonstrates that the barrier to lending is not due to a lack of liquidity in the banking sectors, but rather a lack of willingness to expand lending to agriculture.
“We are failing to produce something on the farms because we don’t have money and other resources required for sustainable farming. The then Ian Smith-led government gave loans to its farmers and that is why they produced surplus for export. The same can happen to us if we get cheaper finance. Otherwise I say no to that Bill,” said Mr Chitima.
Government has over the years been assisting farmers with free inputs and farming equipment and has amended the 99-year leases to make them bankable.
Access to comprehensive financial services is a significant challenge for farmers in the country as much of the agriculture funding tends to be informal and short-term, only partially covering the financial needs of farmers and small agribusinesses and usually at a high cost.
The need for investing in agriculture is increasing due to a rising global population and changing dietary preferences of the growing middle class in emerging markets towards higher value foods e.g. dairy, meats, fish, fruits and vegetables, etc.
Mr Augustine Tawanda Mutenda gave a different view, arguing that those allocated vast tracts of land under the land reform programme — which most have over the years failed to optimally utilise — should have it trimmed and parcelled to those capable.
“All those who are against this Bill are land barons. These are the same people who are leasing their farms to former white commercial farmers without Government approval because they want cheap money. They are reaping without sweating. They are selfish. I agree with the idea of dividing land and share it among others who have the potential to produce and meet the nation and region’s growing food requirements,” said Mr Mutenda.
Under the LCB, Government also seeks to resolve land disputes and dealing with land owners leasing out farms to former commercial white farmers.
The LCB also seeks to promote the one-family-one-farm Government policy and deal with those taking land as a status.
The move by Government is intended to spur production and restore dignity on the farms by putting heat on those that hold onto the farms for speculative and prestige purposes.
Most of the farms in Manicaland especially those along major highways have been neglected, vandalised and turned into white elephants.
Statutory 288 of 2000 – also prescribes the maximum farm sizes across the country’s five ecological regions.
The maximum farm size in Natural Region One, the maximum farm size was pegged at 250ha, in Region Two, it was set at 400ha.
The farm size ceiling in Region Three is 500ha, while that of Regions Four and Five is 1 000ha and 2 000ha, respectively.
