The Zimbabwean government has admitted that some ”administrative errors” had occurred during its land reform process, South African Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Thoko Didiza said on Thursday.
These included that some commercial farmers whose land was seized for redistribution, were left without any land, despite the government’s policy that they should be allowed to keep one farm, she told reporters at the Johannesburg International Airport after returning from a two-day visit to Zimbabwe.
”There are some instances where a person who had two farms were left with none at all.”
Other examples of administrative errors included that two prospective new land owners were allocated the same farm, and that applicants for land were allowed to settle on that land, only to find out later that the farm had been allocated to someone else.
”The government and the commercial farmers have started discussions to correct the administrative irregularities.”
Although the uptake of land among small-scale farmers was between 80 and 90%, that of commercial farmers was only about 30%, Didiza said.
”That indicates to you that there are indeed challenges.”
She said the price of seed, fertiliser and farming implements was too expensive because due to the foreign exchange rate.
”Indications are that all is not hunky-dory. There are successes, but there are also challenges.”
The Zimbabwean government estimated that the maize that had been planted, would yield a crop of 1,1-million tons, if the season went well, the minister said.
”The challenges are there, but you are beginning to see some process of mitigation.”
Foot-and-mouth disease broke out in Zimbabwe two years ago and has still not been brought under control.
Didiza said the South African Cabinet would discuss the possibility of helping its neighbour with the vaccine it needed to fight the disease. – Sapa