A/HRC/43/44/Add.4
D.
Sustainability
31.
The Government is rolling out a climate-proofing agricultural production system
through the restructuring of small holder irrigation schemes to ensure that they contribute
meaningfully to national food security. Currently, these irrigation schemes account for 20
000 hacters of irrigated land and have the potential to significantly contribute to food security
in Zimbabwe. The Government has also gazetted the Control of Irrigable Areas Regulations,
which will give Government a greater level of influence in the small holder schemes.
Other measures include farm mechanization programmes that provide access to mechanized
farm implements by farmers and irrigation development through the installation of new
irrigation infrastructure, such as centre pivots. To date, eighty new centre pivots have been
installed, while a US$50 million dollar tractor facility managed through banks has been
established.
V. Structural obstacles to the realization of the right to food
32.
The Government wishes to point out that security of land tenure is guaranteed
following the conclusion of the structure of bankable 99 Year leases for new commercial
farmers and permit documents for small scale farmers.
A.
Agriculture and Land Systems
33.
The assertion that the land reform programme is a complete failure is misleading. For
the record, the major objective of land reform was to restore the dignity of indigenous
Zimbabweans by addressing imbalances in access to productive agricultural land. In this
regard, the land reform programme has been a resounding success in as far as it has
guaranteed access to land by the indigenous people of Zimbabwe.
34.
Furthermore, after the land reform programme, tobacco production improved over the
years, from 228 million kilograms in 2000 to 258 million kilograms, during the 2018/2019
season. Given proper funding, technical assistance and access to modern farming
implements, indigenous farmers can achieve greater levels of productivity and significantly
contribute more to the national economy. The effect of illegal sanctions in inhibiting the
procurement of the much needed agricultural equipment and implements cannot be over
emphasised.
35.
The Government's primary focus is now on the maximum utilisation of land. In this
regard, a land audit is being carried out by the Lands Commission with a view to coming up
with accurate, statistical and scientific realities on the use of land in Zimbabwe.
36.
The Government has also taken the initiative to compensate former white commercial
farmers for improvements and developments on the acquired farms. To this end, a
compensation framework is now in place whereby Treasury allocates budgetary support to
the programme annually.
B.
Partisan distribution of food
37.
According to successive investigations that have been carried out by various
stakeholders, the allegations that there is partisan distribution of food aid in favour of ruling
party supporters are grossly unfounded. The Government has put in place a structure
responsible for the distribution of food relief, namely the District Drought Relief Committee
(DDRC). The Committee is chaired by the respective District Administrators who also chair
the Rural District Development Committees (RDDC). The Committee comprises the Chief
Executive Officers of the respective Local Authorities, representatives of various
Government Departments, Councillors, Traditional Leaders, as well as other stakeholders,
including representatives of various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating
within the districts. The representatives of NGOs, Councillors and Village Heads are
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