Mugabe seeks to win over 'loyal' white farmers

The hopes of thousands of white Zimbabwean farmers were dashed yesterday when President Robert Mugabe told them that the 8 August deadline for them to surrender their land still stood.

But, in a speech at Heroes' Acre outside Harare, a shrine to those killed in the war against white rule, Mr Mugabe also said that "loyal" farmers willing to co-operate with his government would be allowed to stay.

"All genuine and well-meaning white farmers who wish to pursue a farming career as loyal citizens of this country have managed to do so. We have been generous. No farmer, we said, need go without land."

The speech caused immediate confusion and was seen as an attempt to further split the already divided white farming community. By winning some allies in their ranks, Mr Mugabe may be able to buy legitimacy for his widely condemned land reforms. Nearly 3,000 of Zimbabwe's 4,500 white farmers have been ordered to leave their homes without compensation to allow for black resettlement.

Mr Mugabe said his policy was based on the principle of "one farmer, one farm". But farmers' leaders said at least 1,000 of those ordered to surrender their land owned only one farm. At least 60 per cent of listed farmers have defied the order to quit and were hoping for a reprieve in yesterday's speech.

But while Mr Mugabe made no mention of immediate evictions, he said: "That deadline stands, as it is our wish that everyone interested in farming should be on the land by the time the rains come. Those who want another war should think again when they still have time to do so."