Zimbabwe to compensate white farmers who lost land in seizures 20 years ago

In March 29, 2000, Pippa van Rechteren, left, and her 2-year-old twins Catherine, second from left, and Elisabeth, third from left, are blocked from leaving their house on the white-owned commercial farm, Chiripiro, by Zimbabwe war veterans in Centenary district, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe says it will compensate local and foreign white farmers who lost land and property more than 20 years ago in farm seizures meant to redress some of the wrongs of colonialism. About 4,000 white farmers lost their homes and swathes of land when the Black-majority country’s then-president, Robert Mugabe, launched the often-chaotic redistribution program in 2000, which turned violent at times. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced Wednesday at a meeting with diplomats that his government approved 441 applications from local white farmers for compensation worth $351.6 million and 94 applications from foreigners worth $196.6 million, but only 1%, or $3.5 million, will be paid in cash to local farmers who lost land. World & Nation Ousted White Farmers Plant Roots in Exile Fifteen families whose land in Zimbabwe was seized head to Nigeria to raise crops, poultry and cattle.