A prolific propagandist of President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday tried to claim part of a white-owned farm near Mutare in eastern Zimbabwe.

Tafataona Mahoso said property rights championed by the Movement for Democratic Change were a ploy to return the land to white Rhodesians.

In a column in the state-controlled Herald newspaper, Mahoso argued defending property rights simply meant returning the land to the whites.

He claimed new black farmers were being starved of capital by MDC Finance Minister Tendai Biti.

Mahoso used to be the head of the media and information commission and was directly behind the closure of four newspapers.

The media chief was recently given an offer letter by Zanu-PF to take over 200 hectares on a farm run by Charles Bezuidenhout near Mutare.

Bezuidenhout said he was willing to share his farm with Mahoso.

The farmer had to hand over 130 hectares to another new farmer who left for Namibia.

Bezuidenhout said he suggested Mahoso took over those 130 hectares plus another 70 but Mahoso was not pleased with the suggestion.