White farmers in Zimbabwe now own just three per cent of the country's land, according to a long-awaited audit of the country's controversial land reform programme that was made public yesterday.

According to an executive summary of the audit published in the state-controlled Herald newspaper, white farmers own 1 377 farms, or roughly 1,2-million hectares.

Whites used to own 11-million hectares or 30% of Zimbabwe's land before the government launched a programme in 2000 to seize white-owned land for redistribution among new black farmers and landless blacks.

The summary contradicted government figures on the number of people it had resettled, saying only 127 192 households had been given some 4,2-million hectares of land.

The government had said 300 000 families had been resettled.

The report, commissioned by President Robert Mugabe, had been widely expected to look into allegations that prime commercial farms had gone to ruling party officials.

But the executive summary made no mention of ruling party members owning multiple farms.

Commenting on the report on state television late yesterday, the chairperson of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) dismissed allegations of cronyism.

"We are satisfied there were no favourites," said John Nkomo.

He said that beneficiaries had "cut across the entire nation" and included members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who have been strong critics of the land reform programme.

Nkomo claimed more than 60 000 ha of land had been given back to the state by people who had got more than one farm.

When the report was handed over to Mugabe last month he vowed to "urgently act" on its recommendations.

One recommendation is for dairy farms in one Zimbabwean province to remain with their original owners "with a view to restoring viability in this crucial industry".

Dairy production, as with other sectors of commercial agricultural production, has been significantly cut since the country embarked on land reform.

Another key sector affected is tobacco production, the country's key foreign currency earner.

Tobacco production is reported to have declined 50% since 2000, to 79,9-million kilogrammes.

Nkomo said former colonial power Britain should now work with Zimbabwe instead of against the country.

"Rather than confront us they must cooperate with us and accept that we have a genuine moral case," he said.

Britain has strongly criticised the implementation of the land reform programme in Zimbabwe. – Sapa-AFP.