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Mozambique Denies Uncontrolled Entry of Zimbabwean Farmers
Soares Nhaca, governor of the central Mozambican province of Manica, has said there has been no "uncontrolled entry" of Zimbabwean commercial farmers in Mozambique.
The local Sunday newspaper Domingo quoted Nhaca as saying that his province has licensed 63 Zimbabwean farmers, who have been granted about 1,000 hectares each.
The government regards the Zimbabwean farmers just like any other investors, he said, adding that they are welcome as long as they indeed have money to invest.
He added that a large number of applications from Zimbabwean farmers had been turned down when the applicants could not show that they possessed the resources necessary for successful investment.
According to the governor, the 63 successful applicants were given a total of 63,000 hectares, rather than the 400,000 they had initially asked for.
It was learnt that the land was being granted to the Zimbabweans under normal terms of the Mozambican land legislation and the land concession is valid for 50 years and may be renewed for a further 50.
As for the local residents, Nhaca said his government has been explaining to them that the arrival of foreign farmers does not mean that Manica peasants will be pushed onto poorer land.
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