Mozambique’s Gain
Provincial Governor Praises Zimbabwean Farmers

5^th March 2003

Chimoio (Mozambique), 4th Mar (AIM) - The governor of the central province of Manica, Soares Nhaca, has declared that the role of Zimbabwean farmers is fundamental for the development of commercial agriculture in Mozambique.

Nhaca was speaking after visiting seven farms run by Zimbabwean commercial farmers, who have left their country of origin largely because of the chaotic land reform imposed by the Zimbabwean government. Zimbabwe's loss is Mozambique's gain, and Nhaca said notable agricultural development was under way in the areas where the Zimbabwean farmers have settled.

There are about 50 of them in all, and they have been granted land to farm in the districts of Mossurize, Sussundenga, Gondola and Manica. The Zimbabweans are mainly producing tea, tobacco and other cash crops, but during his visit Nhaca urged them also to grow food crops, particularly grains and vegetables, to satisfy local needs.

Nhaca said the investment by the Zimbabwean farmers in Manica was part of the Mozambican government's drive to restore agricultural production, after the devastation caused by the war of destabilisation that ended in 1992.

The main stress of the Agriculture Ministry has been on peasant farming, which has responded well, particularly in the fertile north of the country. But large scale commercial agriculture has yet to recover, and requires substantial investment.

The argument against foreign farmers settling in Mozambique, sometimes raised by opposition politicians, is that they will usurp land from Mozambican peasants. But according to Agriculture Minister Helder Muteia, so far there have been no conflicts between the Zimbabweans and Mozambican rural communities. He said this was because the authorities had been careful enough "to consult with the communities, to find out whether the land is occupied or not, before granting any plots to foreigners".

Muteia stressed that the work of the Zimbabwean farmers could be an important contribution to the development of agriculture in Mozambique.

Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)