(Ecofin Agency) - Zimbabwe’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa, despite his numerous promises and positive actions for the reconsideration of the land reform carried out since the 2000s by his predecessor Robert Mugabe, has just made a U-turn. He made this known on national TV on february 10, announcing that the farms will not be returned to their white owners.

He said this contrary to some journalists’ suggestion that his regime was willing to review the law on the land reform. “It will never happen, the land reform is irreversible,” he said, as reported by AFP.

 He emphasized that the priorities are elsewhere. “Our land must be productive. We must mechanize and modernize our agriculture. Our economy is struggling, unemployment is high, too many people are unable to afford essential goods for their families and our infrastructure is stuck in the past,” he added.