Mugabe govt, Nick Oppenheimer in land deal - Video

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe's government has reached a land deal with Debshan Ranch chairman Nick Oppenheimer.

Mugabe recently met one of the most influential individuals in global diamond trade, former chairman of Anglo-American and De Beers Nicky Oppenheimer.

The two met as the country was finalising preparations for its first local diamond auction last month.

Mugabe said he and Oppenheimer discussed the fate of the Oppenheimer family's vast land across the country which included six ranches totaling 45 330 hectares.

"I was with Nicky, about a week ago here, he has land here and he comes to his farm once in a while," Mugabe said at the official opening of Zimbabwe's second Diamond Conference in Harare.

"I am just wearing the family hat and we are discussing our estate, which was founded in 1935 when my late great grandfather or was it grandfather who was in Nazi Germany wanted to get away from (the Germany leader Adolf) Hitler so he came here and founded this farm," said Nicky.