White farmers and Zimbabwe's main opposition party reacted with shock and anger yesterday after President Robert Mugabe said he would not end the occupation of hundreds of white farms by liberation war veterans.
But the self-styled veterans, led by Mr Chenjerai Hunzvi, were jubilant, saying Mr Mugabe had reasserted the right of blacks to take back land stolen by British colonial settlers.
Speaking at the launch of his ruling party's manifesto for an election expected in June, Mr Mugabe said he would not intervene in the dispute and said land-less blacks would need half the 12 million hectares owned by whites.
He lashed out at critics at home and abroad and said: "Let no one ever think that we will call upon the war veterans to withdraw unless that which they seek has been obtained."
On the white farmers, he said: "The 20,000 the British would want to give the opportunity to quit the country are free to make their choice . . . We can also assist by showing them the various ways they can leave."
Mr Mugabe said the land crisis would end only when white-owned farms earmarked by the government for black resettlement had been handed over.
He ended his speech with a clenched fist raised in the air and shouting: "Down with British imperialism and neo-colonialism."
In London Britain's Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, responded by announcing that he was tightening export controls on Zimbabwe.
From yesterday, Britain will refuse all new export licence applications for arms and military equipment to the country.
"Mugabe's sharp, critical tone shows that he wants to win elections at any cost, even if that cost is to destroy the nation," said Mr David Coltart, legal affairs secretary of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Mr Hunzvi, leader of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association, said his men would not leave the farms.
"We are on the land. We are not retreating. The President backs our position. What else do you want me to tell you?" said Mr Hunzvi, who stood on the same stage as Mr Mugabe during the speech.
White farmers have warned that more civil unrest would jeopardise the planting of the next wheat and tobacco crops. Farmers have delivered only a fraction of their tobacco crop to annual auctions because of the land crisis.
The Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU), which represents the country's 4,500 commercial farmers, most of whom are white, said it had always supported land reform. But the process had to be clearly defined, including the level of compensation.
Mr Mugabe said there would be no compensation unless Britain, as former colonial master, provided funds for the acquisition of farms. Britain has so far refused to give money until the occupations stop.
White farmers had hoped Mr Mugabe would address problems such as high interest rates and restricted access to fertilisers and pesticides.
"Not to deal with these issues is to confirm he has no intention of improving farm produce, which is a pity," said a CFU official who declined to be named.
In London, a spokesman for the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, said Mr Nelson Mandela backed Britain's approach to the Zimbabwe crisis. This followed an hour of talks between Mr Blair and the former South African president.