Mugabe lashed by old enemy

Zimbabwe's last white leader, Ian Smith, yesterday dismissed President Robert Mugabe's planned land-grab as politicking and said if he did seize white farms it could destroy the economy.

"Mugabe won't go ahead with his plans as they are now. The most important thing for him now is to win support and votes," Mr Smith said.

Mr Mugabe's government has included a part of a farm owned by Mr Smith, white Rhodesia's last prime minister, among 1,503 land parcels it plans to seize for redistribution to black peasants.

- Reuters, South Africa