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Former Malysian dictator Mahathir bin Mohamad

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ZIMBABWE’s chaotic land reform programme continues to cause diplomatic tensions with other countries amid revelations that Malaysia has formally protested to Harare over the illegal seizure of a banana plantation owned by its nationals by a retired army officer, a report said on Wednesday.

Just a few months after a dispute over the seizure of farmland owned by South African nationals stalled last year’s signing of an investment protection agreement, the Malaysian embassy in Harare has approached Zimbabwe’s Vice President John Nkomo over the illegal occupation of the plantation by Major Edzai Chimonyo, a retired army officer.

Charge de Affairs at the Malaysian embassy, Mohamad Nizan Mohamad, said Nkomo had promised to take the matter to President Robert Mugabe who is a close friend of former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The banana farm is owned by Matanuska, a farming organisation owned by Malaysian investors and is protected under a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement (BIPPA) between Harare and Kuala Lumpur.

The Malaysians also own several other agro-business projects in Manicaland and Mashonaland Central provinces that has some of Zimbabwe’s best agricultural land.

Zimbabwe’s often violent programme to seize white-owned farm land for redistribution to landless blacks also saw several farms owned by foreigners and protected under bilateral trade agreements between Zimbabwe and other countries seized without compensation.

The seizure of private land has raised questions about Zimbabwe’s commitment to uphold property rights as well as agreements entered into with other countries.

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