By Correspondent
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Harare, Zimbabwe (News of The South) – A wave of discontent is sweeping through Zimbabwe’s war veteran community following a demand for United States Dollar (USD) payments for title deeds to land they were allocated as compensation for their role in the liberation war. The land, initially granted under 99-year leases by the late President Robert Mugabe, is now subject to a titling process with fees pegged at USD 2,000 per hectare.
This development has sparked outrage, with many veterans questioning the rationale behind charging in USD when the country’s official currency is now the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG). A veteran who identified himself as Munhumutapa voiced the collective frustration, stating, “This land was given to us by Mugabe as compensation for the Chimurenga war. Asking us to pay such exorbitant amounts in USD for the deeds is akin to selling the land to us. It makes no sense.”
Munhumutapa argued that the demand for USD is particularly perplexing given that the Parliament of Zimbabwe has declared the ZiG as the official currency for all transactions within the nation. He highlighted the discrepancy by questioning why war veterans are being asked to pay for their land deeds in USD while other essential goods, such as fuel, are also reportedly being transacted in the foreign currency.
“Zimbabweans should respect the ZiG; it is our official currency, not the USD. We cannot have a situation where we are mixing currencies in Zimbabwe,” Munhumutapa asserted. He called upon the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mthuli Ncube, to provide a clear explanation regarding the dual currency system and to clarify which currency should be used for transactions within Zimbabwe.
The hefty fees associated with obtaining the title deeds have also raised concerns about affordability for the war veterans, many of whom are pensioners with limited income. Munhumutapa suggested that the demanded amount for the deeds is comparable to the cost of purchasing new land, effectively negating the intended benefit of the compensation.
“It’s possible that any law firm would request such an amount to process a deed, but this land was given to us as part of our pension. Charging so much money is just as good as selling a new piece of land,” he lamented. He further questioned the beneficiaries of these payments, asking, “This land belongs to the black people of Zimbabwe, so when this money is being paid, it’s going to whom, why, and where?”
The war veterans have reportedly taken their grievances to King Munhumutapa, a traditional leader whose pronouncements on the matter carry significant weight within the community. King Munhumutapa echoed the sentiments of the veterans, emphasizing the need for them to be respected for their contributions to the nation’s independence.
The issue of land compensation in Zimbabwe has been a long-standing and complex one. While the 99-year leases were intended to empower black Zimbabweans, the current demand for USD payments for title deeds has introduced a new layer of controversy. This development coincides with ongoing debates and legal challenges surrounding the compensation of white former commercial farmers whose land was acquired during the land reform program.
The government’s decision to demand USD for the war veterans’ land titles while advocating for the use of the ZiG has created confusion and fueled speculation about the country’s currency policies. The war veterans’ outcry adds pressure on the government to clarify its stance and address the concerns of this influential group. As the situation unfolds, the spotlight remains on Minister Ncube to provide the much-needed explanations and potentially reconsider the currency demands for the war veterans’ land deeds.
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