Zimbabwe now giving back farms to black farmers whose farms were seized during land reform program under Mugabe
The government of Zimbabwe is now restoring farms to black farmers who lost their land during the controversial Fast Track Land Reform Programme under former President Robert Mugabe, businessman and lawyer Tawanda Nyambirai has revealed.
Writing on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Nyambirai said the directive to return the farms to black indigenous farmers came from President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself.
“Upon being reminded that I lost my farms under the First Republic, the President directed that my farms be restored. I followed the prescribed legal process and indeed the title to my farms was restored after 20 years,” wrote Nyambirai on 24 April 2025.
“We are now in the final stages of taking back possession. My Senior Brother, Nic Vingirai was also assisted. We have an association of black indigenous farmers who lost land. We are all grateful that the Government, especially the President himself, has stepped forward to give us redress.”
Association of black landowners formed
Nyambirai revealed that an organised group of black indigenous farmers who had lost their land had formed an association to engage the government and navigate the legal process.
When asked if the group included companies that lost land during the programme, he replied:
“Some members of the group held their farms through their companies.”
He stressed the importance of acknowledging progress, saying:
“We must always give credit where it is due.”
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba responded positively to the news, thanking Nyambirai for shedding light on the issue.
“Thank you for clarifying matters for the sake of truth and history. Kune vanga voshandisa your case to badmouth Land Reforms. Anyway, justice was restored and we are happy for you and your family.”
Farm seizure linked to General Mujuru
Nyambirai went on to give more personal context about how he lost his land. He said the late General Solomon Mujuru had targeted him, and that the real target was telecommunications magnate Strive Masiyiwa.
“In my case, it was the late General Mujuru who abused the system and targeted me. His main target was Mr Strive Masiyiwa, as was later explained to me by the former First Family,” he revealed.
Nyambirai explained that President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was the speaker of Parliament at the time, had tried to help.
“HE [President Emmerson Mnangagwa] advised me to vacate the farms and wait for sanity to prevail before vindicating my rights… HE was for land reform, but not for the violence. HE always believed that some cases deserved compensation and that land must have title.”
He also mentioned that Mnangagwa, who was the Speaker of Parliament at the time Nyambirai confronted Mujuru, had played a behind-the-scenes role in trying to assist.
“I was privileged to know the side of HE that is hidden to many. If I was better at making friends, I would have had the privilege of being closer to him.”
Legal redress after two decades
The restoration comes nearly 20 years after the farms were seized.
“Justice was restored,” Charamba concluded in his reply.
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The post Zimbabwe Returns Seized Farms To Black Farmers Who Lost Land Under Mugabe appeared first on iHarare News.
