Question for financial experts.What is the value of your rural home? The answer is it depends…depends largely on your mindset….its all in your head. If you view rural land as a place of witches…then its value is zero! If you view it as an investment place then its intrinsic value is extremely high.

Lets look at examples
If you opt to go to your rural area and rent out your home in Glenview for $300 per month then your rural home is as good as your urban one for a specific period of time.

If you decide to build a home in Seke and rent out your Avonlea flat for $600 per month then your Seke home is as good as your flat. Your rural home is worth  $60.000 because its allowing you to earn $600…at the end of the month you have earned $600.

So the value is in your mindset…your rural land can earn you as much as you want depending on how you view investment.

Dear forumite, get land, land and land nomatter where….do not look down upon land.

Setting up a diaspora village
Do you have access to rural land? Located near urban areas like Domboshava, Musana, Seke, Chihota, Musami? Diaspora and local tourism is on the up…international tourist arrivals is on the up. All of these people need variety….they want the African or Bhundu experience which is why they go to Vic Falls, Hwange, Masvingo, Mana Pools, Gonarezhou and others. There is nothing interesting for them in staying at Hotel Miekles, Rainbow or others….they have better experiences in their home countries.

Our tourism sector does not have options…for most diasporans they started touring Vic Falls, Nyanga, Masvingo from primary schools. There is nothing new in Vic Falls perhaps the carnival that was added in recent years?

So in comes an opportunity for innovative entrepreneurs to develop cultural villages…places where tourists learn about Shona, Ndebele and Tonga cultures…learn the mbira and marimba instruments. A place that allows tourists to have an authentic African experience..a place where they can live for a while vachienda kumombe,kunoraura,kufudza mombe,kutswa,kuenda kunhimbe,kurima negejo.

How many parents from the diaspora would not love to have their kids get kufudza mombe experience? Of course done not as a chore but a great learning experience?

Sounds utopic? Check out The Boma at Vic falls where tourists play drums, drink chikokiyana…there is even a sangoma who is often consulted by foreign tourists. Visit The famous Carnivore in Kenya and check out the many tourists at the place eating game meat.

We go back to our initial question…what is the value of your rural land? Zero if its a place of backward folks, the uneducated. It can be completely useless..a place that makes you angry!

But if you wear a different hat, your land can be extremely valuable…can be equal or more to your Borrowdale mansion, can be equal or more to your London flat…the value is in your mindset…your ability to innovate and earn money from it.

The interest in farming by youths in South Africa is at an all time high. This is encouraging as some explore farming as an alternative to seeking formal jobs. A lot of farming activity is already underway especially in provinces such as Limpopo, KZN and Mpumalanga. The question on the minds of most people interested in getting land is ‘How do you get land?’ Below we feature some answers from our members on land access.

Question: How do I get land access to state land? 

Siya Try the Department of Land Reform.

Tinoda You must have a proper business plan.

Mpho Have a business plan and visit the land departments, but expect slow progress due to corruption.

Mthembeni Have you identified the land you would like to acquire for farming?

Mthingeni Identify the farm which is for sale. Go to the Department of Land Reform. The department will assist. If you have many cattle you stand a good chance and might contribute close to nothing.

Terence The current process is that land is advertised by DRDLR through the local newspapers and all those that qualify need to apply. A committee called DBSC will shortlist then interviews are conducted. The successful candidate will then be awarded the rights to utilise the land in question.

Piet  Visit district office of Dpartment of Rural Development and Land Reform get more direct information . The administrator of District Land reform committee (DLRC) can assist you. They will explain about sub commitee known as Beneficiary selection committee terms of reference.

Terence Just as Bhekathina says…. Go to your district office and at that office ask about the process on leasing of land and if their DLRC (District Land Reform Committee) chaired by farmers is operational. This committee is in charge of land allocation issues.

Thabo Meantime whilst waiting for land from DLRC, go to local chiefs and get a 1 ha or 2ha piece of land and start your operations there.

Thuso  Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. But you gonna wait for a very long time. Ask me. I’m still waiting after 6 years

Lebo  You need serious connections to own a piece of land and if you don’t have connections just be ready for the long haul. There is a long list of people who never farmed before and those who are serious about farming awaiting just to face the panel or the board that decide whether you qualify or not. Iam sorry about the weak system where the monied are given first preference over those who are more capable.