Zimbabwe has announced plans to return 67 foreign-owned farms seized during the country’s controversial land reform program launched more than two decades ago. Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka said the government would also pay $146 million in compensation to affected owners from countries including Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the former Yugoslavia. The announcement marks a significant step toward resolving one of Zimbabwe’s most damaging economic and diplomatic legacies. “The violent land seizures under former President Robert Mugabe left hundreds of farm workers dead and displaced around 4,000 White farmers. It triggered international sanctions and years of economic isolation. Officials also said hundreds of farms owned by both Black and White Zimbabweans would be restored. In 2020, Zimbabwe agreed to pay $3.5 billion in compensation, though some farmers later rejected revised payment terms involving government bonds.
Moneyweb
