Contested compensation: the politics, economics and legal nuances of compensating white former commercial farmers in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT

In July 2020, the government of Zimbabwe and white former commercial farmers signed a Global Compensation Deed agreement of US$3.5 billion. Under this deal, and in line with Section 295 (3) of the constitution, white former farmers are ‘entitled to compensation from the State only for improvements that were on the land when it was acquired’. This article questions the political, financial and legal rationale of this agreement. First, it argues that the compensation deal is ultra vires since there is no enabling act of parliament to support it as required by the constitution. Consequently, this deal is tenuous and insidious. Second, Zimbabwe’s economic implosion and colossal foreign debt will make it difficult for international financial institutions to extend credit lines. Third, this deal reverses some land reform outcomes, thus raising political tensions. Fourth, these political tensions are swelling into resistance against the deal by war veterans and the opposition.

RÉSUMÉ

En juillet 2020, le gouvernement du Zimbabwe et les anciens fermiers commerciaux blancs ont signé un Accord de Compensation Globale d’une valeur de US$3,5 milliards. Dans le cadre de cet accord, et conformément à la Section 295 (3) de la constitution, les anciens fermiers blancs ont « droit à une compensation de l’État uniquement pour les améliorations qui se trouvaient sur la terre au moment de son acquisition ». Cet article remet en question la justification politique, financière et juridique de cet accord. Tout d’abord, il affirme que l’accord de compensation est ultra vires, puisqu’il n’y a pas de loi d’habilitation du parlement pour le soutenir comme l’exige la constitution. Par conséquent, il s’agit d’un accord ténu et insidieux. Deuxièmement, l’implosion économique du Zimbabwe et sa dette extérieure colossale rendront difficile l’octroi de lignes de crédit supplémentaires par les institutions financières internationales. Troisièmement, cet accord annule certains résultats de la réforme agraire, accroissant par conséquent les tensions politiques. Quatrièmement, ces tensions politiques se transforment en résistance à l’accord de la part des vétérans de guerre et de l’opposition.

KEYWORDS:

• Land
• white farmers
• unconstitutional compensation
• debt
• political tension
• resistance

MOTS-CLÉS:

• Terre
• fermiers blancs
• compensation inconstitutionelle
• dette
• tension politique
• résistance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

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Philani Moyo

Philani Moyo specialises in agrarian studies, food security, climate change impacts and resilience building in Zimbabwe and South Africa. His current research projects are on ‘climate resilience and sustainable food systems in Zimbabwe’ and ‘climate-smart agriculture and resilience building in South Africa’. The National Research Foundation of South Africa funds his ongoing research projects.