Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, has called on its black population to ensure that white farmers do not regain the land seized from them, reports say.
Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, has called on the black population to ensure that white farmers do not regain the land seized from them, reports say.
Mr Mugabe said black Zimbabweans could not afford to "retreat in the battle for land", the Herald newspaper said.
Mr Mugabe said black Zimbabweans could not afford to "retreat in the battle for land", the Herald newspaper said.
On Friday war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda accused white farmers of reoccupying farms allocated to blacks.
The comments came as opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he had defeated Mr Mugabe in the presidential election.
The comments came as opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he had defeated Mr Mugabe in the presidential election.
A High Court judge has said he will rule on Monday on a petition by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) demanding the immediate release of the results.
A High Court judge is set to rule on a petition by the opposition demanding the immediate release of the results.
The judge said he would first consider an argument by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) that his court did not have jurisdiction.
The judge said he would first consider an argument by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) that his court did not have jurisdiction.
'Trespassing'
'Trespassing'
In an article published on Monday, the state-run Herald newspaper quoted Mr Mugabe as saying Zimbabwe's black population had to protect from white farmers the land for which thousands died during the independence war in the 1970s.
In an article published on Monday, the state-run Herald newspaper quoted Mr Mugabe as saying Zimbabwe's black population had to protect from white farmers the land for which thousands died during the independence war in the 1970s.
Land must remain in our hands - the land is ours, it must not be allowed to slip back into the hands of whites President Robert Mugabe
Land must remain in our hands - the land is ours, it must not be allowed to slip back into the hands of whites President Robert Mugabe
"Land must remain in our hands. The land is ours, it must not be allowed to slip back into the hands of whites," he told people attending the funeral of his wife's uncle.
"Land must remain in our hands. The land is ours, it must not be allowed to slip back into the hands of whites," he is quoted as saying.
"We cannot afford to retreat in the battle for land," he added.
"We cannot afford to retreat in the battle for land."
In 2000, there were 4,000 white farmers working on much of the best land in Zimbabwe. Just 300 now remain after a campaign of often violent land seizures initiated by the government's land resettlement programme.
In 2000, there were 4,000 white farmers working on much of the best land in Zimbabwe. Just 300 now remain after a campaign of often violent land seizures initiated by the government's land resettlement programme.
Mr Mugabe's comments came after the leader of the War Veterans' Association accused white farmers of reoccupying farms allocated to blacks, and of telling other black farmers to leave or else face the wrath of an "incoming MDC government".
On Friday, war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda accused white farmers of reoccupying farms allocated to blacks, and of telling other black farmers to leave or else face the wrath of an "incoming MDC government".
"Those white people trespassing on the small-scale and medium-scale farms should know that it is an invasion of our country," Mr Sibanda told reporters on Friday.
"Those white people trespassing on the small-scale and medium-scale farms should know that it is an invasion of our country," Mr Sibanda told reporters.
War veterans say white farmers are reoccupying farms allocated to blacks
War veterans say white farmers are reoccupying farms allocated to blacks"We will defend our sovereignty. We will be compelled to repel that invasion."
"We will defend our sovereignty. We will be compelled to repel that invasion," he added. "These are all provocations against us freedom fighters."
A spokesman for Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party, Patrick Chinamasa, said the opposition MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) had been "unleashing former white farmers on farms occupied by new farmers to reverse the land reform programme".
A spokesman for Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party, Patrick Chinamasa, said the MDC had been "unleashing former white farmers on farms occupied by new farmers to reverse the land reform programme".
But the chief of executive of the Commercial Farmers' Union, Hendrick Olivier, told the BBC that war veterans had invaded eight farms in the southern province of Masvingo since Saturday. State television said at least one farm had been seized.
But the chief of executive of the Commercial Farmers' Union, Hendrick Olivier, told the BBC that war veterans had invaded eight farms in the southern province of Masvingo since Saturday. State television said at least one farm had been seized.
Mr Olivier said the invasions may have been a consequence of the statement made by Mr Sibanda and said his union had urged the authorities to stabilise the situation.
Mr Olivier said the invasions may have been a consequence of the statement made by Mr Sibanda and said his union had urged the authorities to stabilise the situation.
High court decision
High court decision
On Sunday, after a hearing lasting almost four hours, High Court judge Tendai Uchena adjourned to consider whether it has the authority to order the release of the delayed results of the presidential election nine days ago.
On Sunday, after a hearing lasting almost four hours, High Court judge Tendai Uchena adjourned to consider whether the court has the authority to order the release of the delayed results of the presidential election nine days ago.
The Zanu-PF has asked the ZEC for a further delay in declaring the results because of what it called "errors and miscalculations" in their compilation.
The Zanu-PF has asked the ZEC for a further delay in declaring the results because of what it called "errors and miscalculations" in their compilation.
The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took more than 50% of the presidential vote
The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took more than 50% of the presidential voteBut the MDC has said the ruling party wants the delay to help Mr Mugabe find a way to cling to power. Its leader has claimed victory and called on the president to step down to allow a peaceful handover of power.
But the MDC has said the ruling party wants the delay to help Mr Mugabe find a way to cling to power. Its leader has claimed victory and called on the president to step down to allow a peaceful handover of power.
"It's ridiculous and absurd to talk of a recount before you know what the result is," Mr Tsvangirai said on Sunday.
"It's ridiculous and absurd to talk of a recount before you know what the result is," Mr Tsvangirai said on Sunday.
"What we know is that within 48 hours, you can ask for a recount at the voting station. In this case, the results have already been collected at all voting stations, so what kind of a recount are they talking about?" he asked.
"What we know is that within 48 hours, you can ask for a recount at the voting station. In this case, the results have already been collected at all voting stations, so what kind of a recount are they talking about?" he asked.
"It will not only be illegal, but it will be totally impractical to do so."
"It will not only be illegal, but it will be totally impractical to do so."
The ZEC has declared the final results of last week's Senate election. It said the Zanu-PF had won 30 seats, with the combined opposition taking the same number.
The ZEC has declared the final results of the Senate election, which took place on the same day as the presidential poll. It said Zanu-PF had won 30 seats, with the combined opposition taking the same number.
In the lower house, opposition parties took 109 seats, while the Zanu-PF won just 97 - the first time it has failed to win a majority since independence.
In the lower house, opposition parties took 109 seats, while the Zanu-PF won just 97 - the first time it has failed to win a majority since independence.
Mr Mugabe came to power 28 years ago on a wave of optimism.
Mr Mugabe came to power 28 years ago on a wave of optimism.
But in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages, which correspondents say have driven many voters to back the opposition.
But in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages, which correspondents say have driven many voters to back the opposition.
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Are you in Zimbabwe? How concerned are you about the political uncertainty? What is happening where you are? Send us your comments using the form below
