Zimbabwe will return 67 farms seized from foreign nationals under past land reforms, authorities said, in a move aimed at repairing relations with Western governments and unlocking long-sought debt relief.
Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka told lawmakers that the properties—owned by nationals from Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands—would be handed back as they are protected under bilateral investment agreements.
“We are in the process of returning those to them,” Masuka said.
The decision marks a significant step in addressing disputes stemming from the land seizures initiated in 2000 under former president Robert Mugabe, which targeted more than 4,000 white-owned commercial farms. The programme, framed by the government as a correction of colonial-era land imbalances, ultimately devastated agricultural output and contributed to a severe economic crisis, including a currency collapse in 2008.
Under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who came to power following Mugabe’s ouster in 2017, Zimbabwe has sought to normalise ties with Western capitals and re-engage international financial institutions.
Resolving land disputes remains a key condition set by global lenders for any debt relief package. Zimbabwe’s external debt stood at $13.6 billion as of September 2025, including $7.7 billion in arrears, leaving the country largely cut off from international financing for over two decades.
The restitution effort is part of broader reform commitments tied to a staff-monitored programme approved by the International Monetary Fund. While the programme does not include direct funding, it is designed to help Zimbabwe build a track record that could pave the way for future financial support.
Mnangagwa’s government previously agreed to a $3.5 billion compensation deal in 2020 with thousands of displaced white farmers, but payments have been slow due to fiscal constraints.
European governments involved in the latest restitution—many of which are also key donors—are part of ongoing discussions around Zimbabwe’s potential debt restructuring.