A relative of Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is reportedly trying to take over a white-owned farm in Chukutu.

It was a potential embarrassment to Tsvangirai who was on a tour of western capitals to drum up support for his coalition government

The woman at the centre of the row is Arikana Chihombori, a doctor who based in the United States.

She was reportedly trying to take over a farm in the Chegutu district from the Cremer family.

The MDC admitted Chihombori was a distant relative of Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai and Chihombori were seen together at President Jacob Zuma's inauguration in May but MDC officials said the pair had only just been introduced.

Officials said Tsvangirai was intervening directly to try to rectify the land row.

This incident had the potential to be extremely embarrassing for the new prime minister, who was on a six-nation tour of western countries.

Western nations were keen to see the restoration of property rights and other democratic reforms before they poured money Zimbabwe's way.