Zimbabwe in land policy U-turn

Government has made a major climb down and now allows farming joint ventures between black farmers and former white commercial farmers.

It now also allows contract farming.

The move has been welcomed by many farmers who said this was long overdue.

Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Douglas Mombeshora said farmers were now free to choose who they wanted to engage kin joint ventures and contract farming.

Mombeshora said some people came to government complaining that they had been chased by resettled farmers after pouring resources on the farms.

Asked if this was a major U-turn on government policy on land, Mombeshora claimed government always allowed this to happen.