Mushimba to Reconsider/Repossess Land From Foreigners and Give it to Zambians for Agricultural Activities

Organised People's Party (OPP) president Dr Brian Mushimba says an OPP government would review foreign-owned agricultural land and prioritise Zambians in land allocation as part of an ambitious agricultural transformation programme aimed at creating four million jobs.

Speaking on MUVI TV's Listen to the Voter programme, Dr Mushimba unveiled what he described as an Agricultural Revolution, saying the strategy would focus on increasing production of maize, cotton, cattle, soya beans and fisheries, while incorporating climate-smart farming practices.

He said food security has become an urgent national priority because of increasingly erratic weather patterns linked to climate change.

Dr Mushimba said the plan would support 10,000 medium-scale farmers, each cultivating 100 hectares of irrigated and mechanised maize, a programme he said would create approximately 500,000 jobs.

He also pledged support for 500,000 small-scale farmers to produce one million tonnes of cotton within three years. According to Dr Mushimba, the initiative would generate about 2.4 million jobs while promoting the use of biochar to improve soil health and climate resilience.

The OPP leader further said 10,000 cattle farmers would receive support through the development of boreholes in cattle corridors to improve water availability during droughts.

Dr Mushimba said employment opportunities created under the programme would extend beyond farming into processing, storage, transportation and exports.

He added that his party's vision is to help transform Zambians from subsistence farmers into commercial producers, while strengthening the country's ability to withstand droughts and floods.

As part of the proposed reforms, Dr Mushimba said an OPP government would review foreign-held agricultural land and ensure more land is made available to Zambians for productive agricultural activities.