Are former commercial farmers in Zimbabwe satisfied with the global compensation agreement?

ABSTRACT

Zimbabwe’s new administration indicated its willingness to end the compensation dispute, which lasted for two decades with former commercial farmers (FCFs), by signing the global compensation agreement (GCA). In the agreement, the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) offered to pay the sum of 3.5 billion, United States Dollars (USD) to the FCFs for their expropriated farmlands. A study carried out by the Valuation Consortium (Valcon) before the GCA signing revealed that most of the FCFs accepted the compensation offered by the expropriating authority. Thus far, no study has been done to assess the level of satisfaction of the affected FCFs, with the GCA provisions. Therefore, this study evaluated the views of FCFs and members of the Compensation Committee (MsCC) on this subject. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey which was mailed directly to the Chairperson of the FCFs, who sent it to other members to respond to issues raised. The study found mixed views by the FCFs on their levels of satisfaction with the GCA. Thus, the study concluded that compensation offered was not entirely satisfactory because it did not include accruals for delayed payment, professional fees, and a detailed breakdown of the compensable heads of claim.

KEYWORDS:

• Compensation
• expropriation
• farmers
• offer
• satisfaction
• Zimbabwe

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Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

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Notes on contributors

Benita Zulch

Benita Zulch is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department Construction Economics in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. The Department of Construction Economics offering programmes in quantity surveying, construction management and real estate from undergrad level to PhD. She earned a B.Econ in Economics, B.Ed in Education, Masters in Land and Property Development (MLPM) and a PhD in Property Sciences specialising  in  project management.  Prof Benita Zulch has over 28 years of education experience in teaching, lecturing and assessment, programme leadership, administration and curriculum development.  At the previous institution she was responsible for curriculum design and development for distance and residential undergrad and postgrad students. She has published journal and conference papers.  Her research interest includes project management, facilities management, communication and communication skills in the construction industry related to land and property development  management and project and project facilities management,  including leadership in construction project management. She is a member of the ASAQS, SACPVP, and presents an international standing as a Fellow of the AIB.

Joseph (JA) Yacim

Joseph A. Yacim is a Principal Lecturer in Real Estate and Dean at the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nigeria. He is also a Research Associate/Visiting Lecturer at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. His research interests primarily centers on real estate development and valuation, encapsulating the use of artificial intelligence and regression-based techniques. His training, from undergraduate to PhD, is in Real Estate Management and Valuation. Professionally, he is an associate member of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers; and a licensed Estate Surveyor and Valuer.

Partson Paradza

Partson Paradza is a young and upcoming academic who recently graduated with a PhD in Real Estate from the University of Pretoria. Partson is also a holder of a BSc Hons in Rural and Urban Planning, MSc in Real Estate and a Certificate of Vocational Education and Training. He is a member of the African Real Estate Society and the Pula Institute of Town Planners as well as an APC candidate member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a student member of the Compulsory Purchase Association. His research interests include compensation for expropriation, real estate education and social housing.