Government Revises Land Tenure Fees Following Pressure from War Veterans
Zimbabwe has revised its land tenure pricing framework, granting war veterans and civil servants major discounts to improve tenure security and agricultural productivity. The Mnangagwa government’s concessionary model, aligned with land reform goals, addresses discontent over steep fees and promises reimbursements for earlier payments
Dumisani Ndlovu 
HARARE – The government led by Emmerson Mnangagwa has revised its land tenure pricing framework after mounting pressure from liberation war veterans, introducing a new concessionary model aimed at widening access to land ownership.
The policy shift follows a high-level meeting held at ZANU PF headquarters in Harare two weeks ago, where disgruntled veterans reportedly pushed back against steep land regularisation fees.
Chairperson of the Land Tenure Implementation Committee, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, confirmed that the new framework has since been approved by the President and is designed to enhance land tenure security while promoting agricultural productivity.
“The framework seeks to formalise land ownership, strengthen tenure security and enable productive agricultural investment through affordable land acquisition,” said Tagwirei.
Under the revised structure, war veterans will access agricultural land at significantly reduced rates based on agro-ecological regions. In Region One, beneficiaries can acquire up to six hectares at US$10 per hectare, while Region Two allocations are capped at 10 hectares at US$6 per hectare.
Region Three offers up to 20 hectares at US$3 per hectare, Region Four up to 40 hectares at US$1.50 per hectare, and Region Five up to 70 hectares at US$1.17 per hectare. War veterans will also receive an additional 85 percent discount on the already subsidised rates.
The framework extends benefits to other liberation war affiliates, including ex-detainees, restrictees and non-combatant cadres, who will qualify for a 30 percent discount, while collaborators will receive a 15 percent reduction.
Civil servants, both serving and retired, are also included under a tiered discount system ranging from five percent for those with more than five years of service to 30 percent for those with over four decades in public service.
“This measure recognises the long-term contribution of civil servants to national development and provides a pathway to asset ownership and economic security,” Tagwirei said.
Government officials say the revised framework is aligned with broader land reform objectives, including improving security of tenure, boosting agricultural output and promoting equitable access to land.
Beneficiaries have been advised to engage the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development for guidance on application procedures, with authorities also indicating that individuals who previously paid under the old pricing structure will be reimbursed.
The policy adjustment comes amid reports that some farmers had been charged up to US$1.5 million for land tenure regularisation, depending on farm size and location—sparking widespread discontent among war veterans and prompting the latest government intervention.
