The Zimbabwe Government plans to change the law, making it easier and quicker to evict white farmers, state media has reported.

The new legislation would be introduced soon, according to the Herald newspaper, widely seen as a government mouthpiece.

	Zimbabwe's land reform 1890-1980: Black peasants were moved to less fertile areas during the colonial era 2000: 4,000 whites own 70% of prime land March 2000: 'War veterans' occupy white-owned farms 2000-2002: Several white farmers and black workers killed during violence 9 August 2002: 3,000 white farmers ordered to leave their homes September 2002: 2,500 farmers defy evictions Guide to Zimbabwe's land question

This follows the refusal of many white farmers to comply with a government deadline to leave their farms by 9 August.

Many have filed legal challenges and the High Court has ruled that many eviction orders were invalid because the government had failed to notify banks, to which many farms are mortgaged.

Fines for not complying with eviction orders will be increased from 20,000 Zimbabwe dollars to 100,000 Z$ ($1,800), the Herald says.

The paper also quoted Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa as saying that he will be trying to reduce the time farmers have to leave their farms from 90 to five days after they are served with an eviction order.

Some 2,900 of Zimbabwe's 4,000 white farmers were told to leave their land last month.

But lobby group Justice for Agriculture (Jag) says that 2,500 have remained.

Some 300 of them have been arrested by the police, according to Reuters news agency.

Frustrated

Correspondents say the government is frustrated by its inability to legally take possession of white-owned farms.

President Robert Mugabe has promised his supporters that his "land revolution" would be completed by the end of last month.

Up to half the population needs food aid

When speaking to international audiences, Mr Mugabe says that white farmers will be allowed to keep one farm each.

But many farmers say they only own one property and this has been earmarked for seizure.

When addressing his supporters, Mr Mugabe says that 95% of white-owned land will be taken and given to blacks.

The United States and Britain say that some of the land which has been seized has been given to Mr Mugabe's political associates and military leaders, instead of the landless blacks he has promised to help.

Zimbabwe is currently facing a severe food crisis, with up to six million people - half the population needing aid.

Aid agencies and Mr Mugabe critics say this has been worsened by the disruption to agriculture caused by his land reform programme.

He denies this, saying that 70% of food crops are grown by black farmers and that poor rains caused the failed harvests.