ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe insisted overnight that the farming sector could help bring about an economic revival as he handed equipment over to beneficiaries of his controversial land reforms.
The program of land reforms, which saw white farmers kicked off their land which was then handed over to landless blacks, has been widely blamed for the economic woes in a country formerly regarded as the region`s bread basket.
Many new landowners had little experience in farming and production has nosedived since the launch of the program in 2000.
Inflation is also now running at more than 3700 per cent but Mr Mugabe told farmers who were now in place that they could execute an "an important step towards disinflation" by increasing food production.
"As we celebrate today`s remarkable achievement (land redistribution), we need to commit ourselves to a singleness of purpose and resist attempts by our detractors to tempt us into losing sight of our national programs," he said.
Mr Mugabe`s speech, which included a new broadside against former colonial power Britain, came as hundreds of farmers were handed equipment including tractors, combine harvesters and even 1500 ox-drawn ploughs bought with funds from the central bank.
Some of the beneficiaries included youths groups, tribal chiefs, civil servants groups, senate and war verterans.
Central bank chief Gideon Gono said the mechanisation project was designed to enhance food production, adding that 33 per cent of Zimbabwe`s hyperinflation was induced by food.
Mr Mugabe welcomed some members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) who attended the function by saying: "No politics can make the alien, we eat together don`t we?
"When we engage in our political fights, it`s because our tummies will be full."
Zimbabwe`s relations with Britain were strained when the southern African country launched controversial land reforms six years ago calling the project a reversal of historical imbalances that favoured white farmers.
Critics often blame the land reforms for compromising production in the former regional breadbasket, saying the beneficiaries lack the means and skills to farm.
