Mugabe accepts offer on 531 white-owned farms

Zimbabwe's government said it has accepted an offer of 531 white-owned farms for the resettlement of landless black people.

Zimbabwe's government said it has accepted an offer of 531 white-owned farms for the resettlement of landless black people.

The statement comes on the eve of international crisis talks on political violence in Zimbabwe where hundreds of farms have been occupied by so-called war veterans.

The offer relates to about 2.4 million acres of farmland.

Vice President Mr Joseph Msika said the offer shows "some white farmers appear to have turned a new leaf in their attitude" toward the government's land seizure programme.

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"This development represents a home-grown solution, which amply shows that Zimbabweans are capable of solving their own problems."

Talks are taking place tomorrow in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, between foreign ministers of Britain and its former colonies on the land seizures in Zimbabwe and the country's strained relations with Britain.

White farmers and private financial backers made the offer in May, hoping to break a year-long deadlock with the government over its "fast track" land seizure programme, targeting 4,600 farms, and the violent occupation by black ruling party militants of hundreds of farms.

Most of the farms offered had already been targeted for seizure, Mr Msika said.

More than 200 farmers have pledged to withdraw legal challenges to the confiscation of their land, in exchange for permission to remain on subdivisions of their property, he added.

The group, calling itself the Zimbabwe Joint Resettlement Initiative, said farmers will assist resettled families, providing technical advice and equipment to work the ceded properties.

PA