Zimbabwe’s announcement that it has begun compensating white farmers for land seized during its controversial land reform program is drawing strong criticism, with many calling it a calculated attempt to impress U.S. President Donald Trump and global lenders, rather than a genuine step toward justice.
The news came earlier this month, when Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube claimed the government had paid $3.1 million in compensation for 378 farms. This payout is part of a broader $3.5 billion agreement known as the Global Compensation Deed (GCD), signed in 2020 to resolve disputes with thousands of white farmers whose land was taken in the early 2000s.
However, several farmer groups and legal representatives quickly challenged the government’s statement. They argue that the money paid so far is not part of the official compensation deal but rather a separate arrangement involving discounted bonds. These bonds were accepted by only a few farmers willing to take reduced settlements through what’s known as the Farm Compensation Agreement. Critics say the government is blurring the lines between the two agreements to inflate its progress.
Those familiar with the details, including members of the Compensation Steering Committee, which represents the majority of affected farmers, say no money has yet been paid under the 2020 deal. They accuse the government of misrepresenting the facts and misleading the public. Legal experts working with the dispossessed farmers have gone even further, calling the announcement deceptive and dishonest.
This controversy has raised fresh questions about the government’s motives. Analysts believe the announcement was carefully timed to influence Washington, especially President Trump, who has recently taken a tough stance on land reform issues in Africa. Trump has already slashed aid to South Africa over its new land expropriation bill, which allows property seizures without compensation. Zimbabwe’s leadership may be hoping to position itself more favorably by contrasting its actions with those of its southern neighbor.
The dispute also shines a light on Zimbabwe’s long struggle to repair its international reputation. The country has been under Western sanctions since the early 2000s, when former President Robert Mugabe launched the land reform program. While the effort aimed to redistribute land to Black Zimbabweans, it quickly became chaotic and violent, with thousands of white farmers forcibly evicted and most of the land handed over to political allies.
President Mnangagwa, who took power after a military takeover in 2017, has tried to restore relations with Western powers. The $3.5 billion compensation deal was meant to show that his administration was serious about moving forward. But more than three years later, progress has been slow. Zimbabwe remains burdened by a public debt of $21 billion and faces ongoing economic challenges, making full compensation difficult to fund.
Critics say the government’s approach to compensation is not only piecemeal but also misleading. By using bonds and targeting only a few recipients, the administration creates the appearance of progress while avoiding the financial strain of full-scale restitution. Farmer representatives stress that the bulk of those affected have received nothing and were not part of the latest payouts.
As pressure mounts, both at home and abroad, the Zimbabwean government finds itself in a difficult balancing act. It needs to satisfy international creditors to secure future loans while addressing decades-old grievances. But attempts to spin limited payouts into broader reform risk further damaging trust and pushing real resolution even further away.