Zimbabweans mourn 'national hero'

Thousands turned out to bury their "true son of the soil"

Several thousand people in Zimbabwe have attended the funeral of Chenjerai Hunzvi, the leader of the country's War Veterans' Association.

Dr Hunzvi, who was 51, died on Monday and was a controversial figure in Zimbabwe, having spearheaded the invasion of white-owned farms last year.

President Robert Mugabe led the mourners at National Heroes' Acre on the outskirts of the capital, Harare.

Hunzvi declared himself the most dangerous man in Zimbabwe

Mr Mugabe said that Dr Hunzvi had been a pivotal player in Zimbabwe's land reform programme and that the fast-track resettlement programme which began in July last year was now at an advanced and irreversible stage.

"There can be no greater tribute and honour paid him than that which ensures that the fast land resettlement programme is intensified, that the campaign is sustained to the finish," Mr Mugabe told the mourners.

He said that Dr Hunzvi's death should not be an opportunity for those who wanted to see division within the ranks of the country's war veterans.

And he criticised the former colonial power, Britain, and sections of the international media for a campaign that sought to preserve what Mr Mugabe called an immoral and inequitable land system in Zimbabwe.

On Wednesday the politburo of the ruling party, Zanu-PF, confirmed that Dr Hunzvi should be made a national hero and be laid to rest in Heroes' Acre.

'Incited violence'

Mr Hunzvi, who adopted the nickname Hitler, once boasted that he was the most dangerous person in Zimbabwe.

While not doubting the need for land reform in Zimbabwe, Dr Hunzvi's political opponents blamed him for inciting much of the violence in the country.

They have also questioned the decision to honour him as a national hero.

According to the government, Dr Hunzvi died of malaria.

The authorities have been quick to quash rumours that he may have had an Aids-related illness.

His death does leave the government and the ruling party in confusion and disarray, following the death of two cabinet ministers in separate car accidents in the past six weeks.