ZIMBABWE'S WHITE FARMERS

HARARE: Zimbabwe's white farmers to get 99-year leases.

Zimbabwe's remaining white farmers will now get  99-year land leases according to a new government policy that marks-

A dramatic change from widespread evictions of whites from farms.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is breaking away from the seizure of thousands of  white-owned  farms carried out by his predecessor and mentor Robert Mugabe.

The new policy will give remaining white farmers new security from expropriations.

The lands ministry has instructed its provincial officers that the policy should be implemented  ''with immediate effect,'' according to a copy of the directive.

Mnangagwa's move has been welcomed by many   white farmers , who see it as a step toward restoring their involvement in Zimbabwe's agriculture.

''This is what we have been hoping for,'' said Peter Steyl,  president of the Commercial Farmers Union. [AP]