Bulawayo — The Mozambican government has denied that there is an exodus of white Zimbabwean farmers into that country. It said it had licensed only 63 Zimbabwean farmers and had granted each 1 000 hectares. The farmers had asked for 400 000 hectares.

Soares Nhaca, governor of Manica, said a large number of Zimbabwean farmers had been turned down because they had failed to prove that they had the necessary resources for successful investment. He said Zimbabwean farmers were being treated just like any other investors and were being given land concessions valid for 50 years which may be renewed for a further 50 years.

Some of the farmers are fleeing from Zimbabwe's land resettlement exercise which has seen peasants occupy more than 1 700 farms.