MDC wants govt compensation extended to former farm workers

4th September 2020

MDC Alliance says government should extend its new compensation policy on farm workers who also lost property during the country’s chaotic land grab period initially targeted at a tiny minority white landowners in the past two decades.

Speaking at a press conference in Harare Thursday, party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said there were over four million former farm workers who are now living in abject poverty as a result of losses incurred during Zimbabwe’s Land Reform Programme which started in 2000.

This comes after the Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration has inked a US$3.5 billion compensation deal with commercial farmers representative groups.

The amount will cover improvements made on seized farms by the former white landowners.

However, the country’s main opposition feels the compensation regime was skewed towards one section of the victims of the violent land grab policy while ignoring farm workers.

Mahere said government should consider the welfare of the farm workers too.

“Adequate and fair compensation is necessary to ensure viability and national stability,” she said.

“Section 295 (4) of the Constitution expressly requires that the compensation payable must be assessed and paid in terms of an Act of Parliament,” said Mahere. – newzimbabwe

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