Harare, (New Ziana) -The African Development Bank (AfDB) has commended President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the commitment he has shown towards compensating white former commercial farmers who were covered under the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (BIPA).

Briefing journalists at State House after paying a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa on Thursday, AfDB President Dr Akinwumi Adesina said to date 10 of the affected farmers have been fully paid and 75 others partially paid while 9 are still to receive anything, noting that an additional US$20 million has been allocated for the payments.

“We also commended the President for making a very difficult decision, it wasn’t easy for the President to make that decision about the Bilateral Investment Promotion Protection Agreement payments to those affected, but he took the bull by the horns and he did that,” he said.

“In fact they have already fully paid 10 affected farmers and there are 75 also having been partially paid and another nine I think they still remain but I think they still have to pay those farmers I think after having completed their processes for the Government to be able to do that,” said the AfDB chief.

He they were satisfied that President Mnangagwa was supporting the process whole heartedly and was prepared to do anything within his capacity to see it through.

“We are excited about the progress we have made, all the bilateral partners that are here the World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and everybody else we are all working together for the same goal. We are not fully there yet, but we also as African Development Bank very supportive of this process,” he said, adding that they have a clear timeline set for the payment process to enable them secure a global financial advisory frame to support Zimbabwe towards its payment of arrears clearance and debt resolution.

Adesina also applauded President Mnangagwa for the stance that his government has taken to issue title deeds to resettled farmers in the country.

He said the land issue is a key matter in their discussions around the debt resolution process.

To date 10 selected farmers have received the title deeds with plans being to cover 25 00 farmers by the end of this month.

President Mnangagwa appointed Adesina and former Mozambican President Joacquim Chissano to spearhead Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance and debt resolution plan in 2022 and to date they have managed to see through constructive dialogue and brought together all parties involved.

The process has since aided the government in deepening its engagement and re-engagement within the comity of nations.

New Ziana