\u201cOn independence in 1980, the new democratic government of Zimbabwe had to take on the momentous task of dismantling colonial-era patterns of land ownership,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMost of the country\u2019s commercially productive land and large-scale commercial farms were owned by whites.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ramaphosa added that the black majority in Zimbabwe was confined to communal lands and all but entirely excluded from commercial farming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis mirrored our own experience in South Africa,\u201d he said, where white farmers own most productive farmland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He argued that it was essential for Zimbabwe to embark on ambitious reforms to facilitate the entry of black Zimbabweans into productive agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These reforms, he said, were needed for both historical redress and to ensure food security, as well as development and economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The South African president noted that agriculture is a cornerstone of the Zimbabwean economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe congratulate the government of Zimbabwe for the measures it is taking to revive the country\u2019s agricultural sector,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was done through policy reforms, investment in irrigation and mechanisation, and empowering large- and small-scale farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Criticism of Ramaphosa\u2019s comments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Willie-Aucamp-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nDA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp said Ramaphosa wrongfully praised Zimbabwe\u2019s land confiscation process in the early 2000s as essential and ambitious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said this process left Zimbabwe in tatters, destroying its economy, harming its foreign relations, and creating famine for its people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause land was not legally transferred, the failed Zimbabwe model praised by Ramaphosa led to crippling financial reparations being due to former farmers and land owners,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRamaphosa is attempting to whitewash the disaster in Zimbabwe, to create momentum for the ANC\u2019s land expropriation agenda in terms of the Expropriation Act of 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christo van der Rheede and Ismail Joosub from the FW de Klerk Foundation also criticised Ramaphosa\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a foundation dedicated to constitutionalism and human rights, we find it incomprehensible that Ramaphosa would celebrate a policy that inflicted such harm on Zimbabwe,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPresident Ramaphosa\u2019s remarks appear to reflect a blind political allegiance to Zimbabwe\u2019s ruling party, placing solidarity above the lessons of history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rather than glorifying Zimbabwe\u2019s tragic example, South Africa should confront its own underutilised alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe state remains one of the largest landowners in the country, yet much of this land lies idle or is poorly managed,\u201d van der Rheede said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBefore undermining private property rights, the government should release state-owned land and equip emerging farmers with the skills, capital and support needed to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLand reform without productivity condemns people to poverty. Reform with integrity and resources offers real dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happened when Zimbabwe took white-owned farms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Robert-Mugabe-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nZimbabwe launched land reform after independence in 1980. The Lancaster House Agreement redistributed farmland from white citizens to black Zimbabweans to empower them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agreement prohibited the forced transfer of land, and for the next 20 years, the Zimbabwean economy and agricultural sector did well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, this changed in 2000 after President Robert Mugabe began a more aggressive policy, which resulted in the taking of land without compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What followed was expropriations marred by violence and intimidation, with farmers fleeing their land or facing being killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The domestic banks, which held billions of dollars\u2019 worth of bonds on liquidated properties, collapsed, and the country faced hyperinflation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Agricultural output plummeted, resulting in widespread instances of starvation and famine among Zimbabwe\u2019s population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government responded by printing excessive amounts of money to cover budget deficits, triggering hyperinflation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2008, inflation reached an estimated 89.7 sextillion per cent, rendering the Zimbabwean dollar worthless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citizens resorted to bartering and using foreign currencies, such as the US dollar, which remains the case today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unemployment in Zimbabwe reached 94%, prompting many citizens to migrate to South Africa in search of employment and a better life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2009, Zimbabwe no longer had a functioning modern economy. Its once excellent education system collapsed, and having electricity became the exception instead of the norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The country never recovered from the economic disaster, which began when the government condoned the taking of land without compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, there is essentially no currency in circulation in the country, and many Zimbabweans struggle to obtain or afford necessities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most Zimbabwean shops trade in rand or US dollars, but customers cannot get change and must buy products for the exact amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply put, Zimbabwe is a failed state. It went from a fantastic country and the breadbasket of Africa to a place where people struggle to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp said Ramaphosa wrongfully praised Zimbabwe\u2019s land confiscation process in the early 2000s as essential and ambitious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said this process left Zimbabwe in tatters, destroying its economy, harming its foreign relations, and creating famine for its people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause land was not legally transferred, the failed Zimbabwe model praised by Ramaphosa led to crippling financial reparations being due to former farmers and land owners,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRamaphosa is attempting to whitewash the disaster in Zimbabwe, to create momentum for the ANC\u2019s land expropriation agenda in terms of the Expropriation Act of 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christo van der Rheede and Ismail Joosub from the FW de Klerk Foundation also criticised Ramaphosa\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a foundation dedicated to constitutionalism and human rights, we find it incomprehensible that Ramaphosa would celebrate a policy that inflicted such harm on Zimbabwe,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPresident Ramaphosa\u2019s remarks appear to reflect a blind political allegiance to Zimbabwe\u2019s ruling party, placing solidarity above the lessons of history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rather than glorifying Zimbabwe\u2019s tragic example, South Africa should confront its own underutilised alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe state remains one of the largest landowners in the country, yet much of this land lies idle or is poorly managed,\u201d van der Rheede said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBefore undermining private property rights, the government should release state-owned land and equip emerging farmers with the skills, capital and support needed to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLand reform without productivity condemns people to poverty. Reform with integrity and resources offers real dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happened when Zimbabwe took white-owned farms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nZimbabwe launched land reform after independence in 1980. The Lancaster House Agreement redistributed farmland from white citizens to black Zimbabweans to empower them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agreement prohibited the forced transfer of land, and for the next 20 years, the Zimbabwean economy and agricultural sector did well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, this changed in 2000 after President Robert Mugabe began a more aggressive policy, which resulted in the taking of land without compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What followed was expropriations marred by violence and intimidation, with farmers fleeing their land or facing being killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The domestic banks, which held billions of dollars\u2019 worth of bonds on liquidated properties, collapsed, and the country faced hyperinflation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Agricultural output plummeted, resulting in widespread instances of starvation and famine among Zimbabwe\u2019s population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government responded by printing excessive amounts of money to cover budget deficits, triggering hyperinflation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2008, inflation reached an estimated 89.7 sextillion per cent, rendering the Zimbabwean dollar worthless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citizens resorted to bartering and using foreign currencies, such as the US dollar, which remains the case today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unemployment in Zimbabwe reached 94%, prompting many citizens to migrate to South Africa in search of employment and a better life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2009, Zimbabwe no longer had a functioning modern economy. Its once excellent education system collapsed, and having electricity became the exception instead of the norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The country never recovered from the economic disaster, which began when the government condoned the taking of land without compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, there is essentially no currency in circulation in the country, and many Zimbabweans struggle to obtain or afford necessities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most Zimbabwean shops trade in rand or US dollars, but customers cannot get change and must buy products for the exact amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply put, Zimbabwe is a failed state. It went from a fantastic country and the breadbasket of Africa to a place where people struggle to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nZimbabwe launched land reform after independence in 1980. The Lancaster House Agreement redistributed farmland from white citizens to black Zimbabweans to empower them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agreement prohibited the forced transfer of land, and for the next 20 years, the Zimbabwean economy and agricultural sector did well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, this changed in 2000 after President Robert Mugabe began a more aggressive policy, which resulted in the taking of land without compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What followed was expropriations marred by violence and intimidation, with farmers fleeing their land or facing being killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The domestic banks, which held billions of dollars\u2019 worth of bonds on liquidated properties, collapsed, and the country faced hyperinflation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Agricultural output plummeted, resulting in widespread instances of starvation and famine among Zimbabwe\u2019s population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government responded by printing excessive amounts of money to cover budget deficits, triggering hyperinflation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2008, inflation reached an estimated 89.7 sextillion per cent, rendering the Zimbabwean dollar worthless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citizens resorted to bartering and using foreign currencies, such as the US dollar, which remains the case today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unemployment in Zimbabwe reached 94%, prompting many citizens to migrate to South Africa in search of employment and a better life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2009, Zimbabwe no longer had a functioning modern economy. Its once excellent education system collapsed, and having electricity became the exception instead of the norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The country never recovered from the economic disaster, which began when the government condoned the taking of land without compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, there is essentially no currency in circulation in the country, and many Zimbabweans struggle to obtain or afford necessities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most Zimbabwean shops trade in rand or US dollars, but customers cannot get change and must buy products for the exact amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply put, Zimbabwe is a failed state. It went from a fantastic country and the breadbasket of Africa to a place where people struggle to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n