The government of Zimbabwe has announced plans to return 67 foreign-owned commercial farms seized during the controversial land reform programme introduced under former president Robert Mugabe.
The decision was disclosed on Friday by Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka, who said the farms belonged to foreign nationals from Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands and were protected under bilateral investment agreements.
According to the government, the move forms part of broader efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to rebuild relations with Western countries and international financial institutions after years of diplomatic and economic isolation.
Authorities also revealed that more than 400 white farmers would be permitted to buy back all or part of their former farms, while an additional 840 farms belonging to black Zimbabweans would equally be restored to their owners.
Zimbabwe’s land seizures, which began in the early 2000s, were introduced as an attempt to correct colonial-era land ownership inequalities. However, the programme also triggered severe economic consequences, including the collapse of commercial agriculture, food shortages, hyperinflation and a prolonged financial crisis.
The policy further contributed to sanctions and deepened Zimbabwe’s isolation from the international banking system.
Since taking office in 2017 following Mugabe’s removal, Mnangagwa has sought to normalise relations with foreign partners and restore investor confidence in the country.
Resolving the long-running land dispute is widely regarded as a critical step toward restructuring Zimbabwe’s debt burden and regaining access to international financing.
As of September 2025, Zimbabwe’s external debt reportedly stood at about $13.6 billion, including $7.7 billion in arrears.
The government also stated that former farm owners would receive $146 million in compensation. The payment is separate from the broader 2020 compensation agreement valued at $3.5 billion for approximately 4,500 white farmers affected by the land reform programme.
Despite the commitments, authorities acknowledged that financial constraints continue to slow the compensation process.
