Agriculture is the heart of Zimbabwe’s economy, yet the governing ZANU PF party has presided over the total destruction of the lifeline of our agro-based economy.  A ZPDP government will ensure that Zimbabwean agriculture is restored to its full potential.  We will make agriculture an attractive and lucrative business for the private sector and for small-scale farmers.  Our main objective will be to achieve affordable and sustainable food supply and to work towards the eventual total elimination of chronic and seasonal food shortages.

With regard to land tenure, a ZPDP government will guarantee equitable and unbiased land distribution, ownership, leasehold and heritage.  Land rights will be safely guarded by the laws of the country and the custodianship of an independent Land Commission.  Any disputes pertaining to land ownership, rights and land use will be resolved through the Lands Arbitration Court in consultation with the Lands Directorate, Land Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture. 

Land Use

A land audit process will be put in place so as to regularly view land use practices and productivity. What happened to the land situation and agriculture in Zimbabwe can be likened to an earthquake or a Tsunami. No one can reverse either of these natural disasters, but there can be a nationwide clean up exercise in the aftermath.  It is not practically and economically possible to reverse the land process instituted by ZANU PF, but it would be incumbent upon any future government to clean up the mess created by that process.

A ZPDP government will undertake an agricultural rationalisation process during its first term in office.  This will involve the establishment of an independent Land Commission to carry out a national land audit process.  The land audit will identify land that is idle as well as investigate the justification and merits of any multiple land ownerships. 

Land use and land management will be made subject to law and any failure to fully utilise land will be legally investigated with the possibility of legally binding penalties to those who own the land in question.

There will be a review of the land lease system with a view to make it legally imperative upon those who own/lease land from the state to fully and productively utilise it.  Leases will be reviewed every five years to determine productivity and consistent use of leased land.

Under a ZPDP government, land and any related property rights will be protected under the laws of the country and violation of any such rights will be the subject of legal redress through the courts. A special Land Tribunal with special powers conferred through parliamentary statute will work to resolve any outstanding land disputes between the state and private land owners.

A ZPDP government will ensure the equality of all citizens in the acquisition of land and any related property rights.  This will be provided for under the laws of the country and enshrined in the national constitution.  All idle land will be required by law to be put into productive use.

Poultry and Livestock

A ZPDP government will pursue policies and programmes that make Zimbabwe self-sufficient in poultry and livestock production.  We will support the breeders of goats, pigs, cattle, poultry and other livestock so as to encourage and ensure sufficient and quality supply of dairy and meat products for domestic consumption as well as exports for foreign currency generation.

Crop Husbandry

A ZPDP government will encourage the commercialization of agriculture through private large-scale farm enterprises.  We will also take measures to ensure that increased numbers of small-scale farmers develop efficiencies by providing training and incentives such as credit, machinery, technology and a ready market for their produce. 

Irrigation

The ZPDP is aware of the need to reduce the impact of the weather on our country’s agricultural production.  We will take measures to utilize efficient large-scale irrigation facilities and irrigation dams in order to facilitate agricultural production and water for livestock during dry seasons.  In addition, areas that have the potential for producing vegetables and winter crops will have access to small-scale irrigation facilities.  More water bodies will be constructed.  Existing ones will be expanded where there is scope for capacity boosting.