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16A | Agricultural land acquired for resettlement
- In regard to the compulsory acquisition of agricultural land for the resettlement of people in accordance with a programme of land reform, the following factors shall be regarded as of ultimate and overriding importance
- under colonial domination the people of Zimbabwe were unjustifiably dispossessed of their land and other resources without compensation;
- the people consequently took up arms in order to regain their land and political sovereignty, and this ultimately resulted in the Independence of Zimbabwe in 1980;
- the people of Zimbabwe must be enabled to reassert their rights and regain ownership of their land; and accordingly—
- the former colonial power has an obligation to pay compensation for agricultural land compulsorily acquired for resettlement, through an adequate fund established for the purpose; and
- if the former colonial power fails to pay compensation through such a fund, the Government of Zimbabwe has no obligation to pay compensation for agricultural land compulsorily acquired for resettlement.
- In view of the overriding considerations set out in subsection (1), where agricultural land is acquired compulsorily for the resettlement of people in accordance with a programme of land reform, the following factors shall be taken into account in the assessment of any compensation that may be payable
- the history of the ownership, use and occupation of the land;
- the price paid for the land when it was last acquired;
- the cost or value of improvements on the land;
- the current use to which the land and any improvements on it are being put;
- any investment which the State or the acquiring authority may have made which improved or enhanced the value of the land and any improvements on it;
- the resources available to the acquiring authority in implementing the programme of land reform;
- any financial constraints that necessitate the payment of compensation in instalments over a period of time; and
- any other relevant factor that may be specified in an Act of Parliament. [Section inserted by section 3 of Act 5 of 2000 - Amendment No. 16.]


















