Zimbabwe's compensation of white farmers

Zimbabwe is to start paying compensation this year to thousands of white farmers who lost land under former president Robert Mugabe's land reform nearly two decades ago, the government said, as it seeks to bring closure to a highly divisive issue. Two decades ago Mugabe's government carried out at times violent evictions of 4 500 white farmers and redistributed the land to around 300 000 black families, arguing it was redressing imbalances from the colonial era. But land reform still divides public opinion as opponents see it as a partisan process that left the country struggling to feed itself. President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government sees the paying of compensation to white farmers as key to mend ties with the West, and has set aside $17.5 million in this year's budget to that end. The initial payments will target those in financial distress, while full compensation will be paid later.To take the conversation forward we are joined by: Dr Webster ZambaraSenior Project Leader: Peace Building initiatives The Institute for Justice and ReconciliationLovemore Kadenge President Zimbabwe Economics Society