Harare — THE long-awaited 99-year land leases will be finalised not later than June this year, National Security, Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement Minister Cde Didymus Mutasa has said.

Addressing journalists during the briefing on the new turnaround blueprint, the National Economic Development Priority Programme (NEDPP), in Harare yesterday, Cde Mutasa said priority would be given to A2 (large-scale commercial) farmers. Surveys, he said, are already underway in the country's 10 provinces. "The target that we have set (at Cabinet level) to complete processing of the 99-year lease forms is by end of June," said Cde Mutasa, emphasising that there was no going back on the land reform programme.

The leases would bring a new wave of hope among new farmers allocated land under agrarian reforms most of whom have largely not been able to access funding from the financial sector owing to lack of collateral. In addition to this, another fundamental advantage is that leases provide a practical land tenure system that ensures continuity while bolstering agricultural productivity. This year, the agricultural sector has been projected to make a remarkable 9 percent growth . Home Affairs Minister Cde Kembo Mohadi, who was also present at the briefing, gave assurance that his ministry would work flat out to ensure that properties owned by either foreigners or locals were safeguarded.

Asked how the Government would react in the event of fresh farm occupations, Cde Mutasa said: "We will not allow any further disruptions on farms. If someone comes to occupy land that would have been lawfully given to a particular farmer, he should be politely told to leave." The land reform programme, despite being successfully completed, had been under threat following reports of fresh farm occupations by individuals who took advantage of their political clout. Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono is on record as having described people behind such activities as "criminals" bent on "derailing" the economic turnaround.