President Mnangagwa is facing growing criticism over his controversial land tenure reforms, with war veterans and political analysts warning that the proposed changes could undermine the country’s historic land reform programme and violate Zimbabwe’s Constitution.
The reforms, introduced under the Land Tenure Implementation Programme late last year, form part of Zimbabwe’s broader arrears clearance and debt resolution strategy. The initiative aims to address land tenure security, compensate former white commercial farmers, and resolve disputes related to land covered by Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs).
A key component of the programme is the transition from the current system of 99-year leases and offer letters to full title deeds for resettled farmers. Additionally, a US$500 per hectare levy has been introduced for those holding offer letters, permits, or leases. The revenue collected will be used to settle the government’s US$3.5 billion compensation agreement with white farmers displaced during the fast-track land reform programme launched in 2000.
However, the proposed changes have provoked outrage among veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation war — many of whom were at the forefront of the land invasions that led to the redistribution of white-owned farms. These war veterans argue that requiring black beneficiaries to pay for land they fought for is both unjust and a betrayal of the values of the liberation struggle.
Political analyst and former journalist Jealousy Mawarire has condemned the reforms as unconstitutional. He said the Zimbabwean Constitution clearly outlines that all agricultural land is vested in the state and cannot be converted to freehold ownership without a constitutional amendment.
Mnangagwa Under Fire Over Controversial Farm Title Deeds Reform
“Section 290 and Section 72(4) of the Constitution affirm that agricultural land belongs to the state,” Mawarire told Newsroom Afrika. “If the government wants to alter this arrangement, they must amend the Constitution — and that can only be done through a referendum. You cannot introduce freehold title deeds without consulting the people.”
Mawarire also criticised the formation of the land tenure committee driving the reforms, claiming it was established without parliamentary oversight or legal mandate. He accused the government of attempting to retroactively impose payments on black farmers who received land through the fast-track reform, despite the fact that black Zimbabweans were never compensated when their ancestral land was seized under colonial rule.
“This is what the war veterans are resisting,” he added. “They view this as a betrayal of everything they fought for — a commodification of land that disregards Zimbabwe’s historical injustices.”
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) faction led by Andrease Mathibela has also strongly opposed the programme. In a statement, Mathibela criticised the government for pushing the reforms without national consensus or public debate.
“What is most disturbing is the way our land — land for which thousands sacrificed their lives — is being sold without any consultation,” he said. “This is being done behind closed doors, without a referendum, without public debate, and without the consent of the people whose ancestors are buried in that soil.”
He added, “Land is not a commodity. It is a sacred trust. To sell it without the people’s blessing is not only undemocratic — it is treacherous.”
In a sign of mounting resistance, a group of war veterans took legal action in May, filing a case against President Mnangagwa to challenge the legality of the land tenure changes. Represented by lawyer and opposition politician Tendai Biti, the group argued that the president acted unlawfully by introducing sweeping land policy changes without the approval of the Zimbabwe Land Commission or supporting legislation.
Although Mnangagwa signed the US$3.5 billion compensation agreement with former white farmers in 2020, the government has so far struggled to fulfil its financial obligations. To date, only US$3 million has been paid out, fuelling concerns over how the remainder will be raised — and at what cost to current landholders.
Mawarire has also raised concerns that the reforms could be part of a wider political agenda. He speculated that the programme may be used to entrench Mnangagwa’s power and extend his rule beyond the two-term constitutional limit.
“There’s growing suspicion that these reforms are part of a long-term strategy to keep Mnangagwa in office until 2030,” Mawarire warned.
As controversy deepens, the land title reform programme is likely to remain a divisive and emotive issue. It has reawakened painful memories of colonial land dispossession and revived tensions over land sovereignty, economic justice, and political power. For many, the issue of land remains not just a matter of policy — but of national identity, sacrifice, and the unfinished business of liberation.
Source- Bulawayo24
