Only 500 out of 23 000 Zimbabwe farmers have been issued 99-year leases

HON. BITI:  Madam Speaker Ma’am, the issuance by the Government through the esteemed Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Masuka of upgrading the offer letter into a security, to quote him, a securitised certificate of occupation by A2 farmers, is an acknowledgement of the insecurity associated with the offer letter.  I submit Madam Speaker Ma’am that the certificate of occupation A2 which is not backed by a legal instrument, an Act of Parliament has no difference at all with the original letter.  Why is it that the Minister and the Government are not complying with Chapter 16 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which says, among other things, that any farmer and farm owner and any beneficiary of the Land Reform Programme needs security of tenure and needs some form of title which can be hypothecated?  I thank you.

HON. DR. MASUKA: I thank Hon. Biti for the supplementary question.  The securitised offer letter is already recognisable in terms of the law and in terms of the Finance Act of 2023.  So, it is already included in that in order to enhance production and productivity – so that has been recognised already.

However, the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the AG, the Ministry of Finance and our Ministry, are currently seized with the Agrarian Reform laws which will take into consideration many aspects that have been raised by the Hon. Member including improving the tenure aspect and we can have some discussion at some stage on that. I thank you.

HON. NDUNA:  The last answer by the Hon. Minister speaks to security of tenure or protection and also the reform of the Agrarian Act.  would it please the Minister to put a moratorium for people that are affected by the Mines and Minerals Act who are holding on to the Agrarian Reform Act who are being displaced because of the Mines Act which is archaic and superseding all other Acts. 

HON. DR. MASUKA: The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill is already out for public hearings and will be coming to this august House.  This process is ongoing.  I hope that the Hon. Member will be able to sufficiently input into this Bill so that his views can be taken on board just like those of many farmers  but as long as the legal environment remains what it is, it is the law of the land and that is what we utilise.

The Government, in coming up with this amendment, is of the view that there are many conflicts between miners and farmers which the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill will be able to address and I look forward to the contributions by the Members in order to ensure that there is rapport and peace in agricultural activities and also mining activities.

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