Chinese growers are taking over operation of local tobacco farms and investing substantial sums to turn around two decades of mismanagement since the properties were seized from their white owners, the NZ Herald said.

An estimated 1,500 acres on five Chinese operated farms in Mashonaland Central will be used for tobacco this year, the newspaper said. Chinese growing operations represent a first for Zimbabwe, the New Zealand based newspaper said on its website. A portion of earnings from the coming crop will be earmarked for rent to be paid to the persons who took control of the farms, the newspaper said.