Zimbabwe’s agricultural landscape has undergone significant transformation since the land reform programme initiated over two decades ago. While the programme sought to correct historical land imbalances and empower indigenous farmers, it also introduced challenges relating to productivity, access to capital, and security of tenure. In response to these realities, joint venture agreements (“JVs”) have emerged as an important legal and commercial mechanism aimed at revitalising the agricultural sector.
A JV is essentially a contractual arrangement between two or more parties who combine resources, expertise, and capital to pursue a common objective. Within Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, these agreements commonly involve a landholder contributing land rights while an investor contributes capital, technical expertise, infrastructure, and operational management.
JVs in agriculture are regulated primarily through Section 18 of the Land Commission Act [Chapter 20:29], which requires such agreements to be approved by the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development minister. Failure to obtain approval may result in penalties including fines or imprisonment. The purpose of this approval process is to ensure accountability, proper land utilisation, investor protection, and alignment with national agricultural policy objectives.
From a practical perspective, one of the most important aspects when drafting a JV is ensuring that the arrangement does not resemble an outright sale or transfer of the farm. In my experience dealing with the ministry on behalf of clients, agreements that appear to permanently strip the landholder of all meaningful rights or control often attract scrutiny and resistance during the approval process.
The ministry generally seeks to maintain the ethos and principles underlying the land reform programme. As a result, there is usually concern where a JV excessively limits the rights of the landholder, creates the appearance of a disguised land sale, or grants unfettered control to the investor without adequate safeguards for the occupier of the land.
It is therefore important for JVs to strike a careful balance between investor protection and preservation of the landholder’s rights. The agreement should clearly define the respective obligations of the parties, the scope of the farming activities, profit-sharing arrangements, dispute resolution mechanisms, environmental obligations, and the duration of the venture. Equally important is ensuring that the landholder retains identifiable rights and benefits under the agreement.
Another key consideration is security of tenure. Agricultural projects often require substantial investment in irrigation systems, equipment, infrastructure, and crop establishment before profits can be realised. Investors therefore require contractual certainty and protection for their investment. At the same time, the landholder must be protected from unfair or exploitative terms. This is why properly drafted agreements usually contain detailed provisions dealing with breach, termination, compensation for improvements, dispute resolution, and succession.
JVs also address one of the major challenges facing many A1 and A2 farmers limited access to finance. Since offer Letters are generally not accepted by banks as reliable collateral, investors in JVs often provide the capital required for mechanisation, irrigation development, dam maintenance, and export-oriented production. These partnerships can therefore unlock productivity on underutilised land while facilitating skills transfer and employment creation.
- Corruption watch: Time for citizens, civil society to take over
- Pushback over Chinese lithium push
- Corruption watch: Time for citizens, civil society to take over
- Pushback over Chinese lithium push
Keep Reading
While some critics view JVs as inconsistent with the objectives of land reform, the reality is that they have become an important tool for promoting commercial viability and sustainability within the agricultural sector. When properly structured, they encourage productivity, increase land utilisation, restore investor confidence, and contribute towards food security and economic growth.
Ultimately, a well-drafted JV must balance commercial practicality with regulatory compliance and fairness between the parties. The success of any agricultural joint venture lies not only in the capital invested, but also in ensuring that the agreement reflects transparency, mutual benefit, and respect for the legal and policy framework governing agricultural land in Zimbabwe.
*Panashe Donzwambeva is a lawyer with keen interest public legal education and regularly writes on developments in Zimbabwean law. He is reachable on
+263 776 881 963/ +263 779 769 420
