COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION

INFORMATION ROOM

FARM INVASIONS UPDATE - 11 MAY 2000

Meetings with the taskforce and the war veterans have continued but
nothing new to report.

REGIONAL REPORTS
Mashonaland Central
No report today. Today's and tomorrow's report will be combined.

Mashonaland East
Macheke/Virginia - Labour on Chiringe Farm were assaulted on Tuesday
night, but the taskforce defused the situation. Excessive demands have
been made on Nyagadzi but the situation was defused. The farmer on Glen
Somerset was forced to sign over half of his farm.

Bromley/Ruwa/Enterprise - The owner of Lonely Park is still not back on
his farm. The workers milked the cattle yesterday but then refused to
return to work until they had been paid. The invaders released the DZL
truck before all of the milk was loaded. A support unit was deployed to
escort a payroll team onto the farm to pay the work force. This was
successful. It is hoped that a Support Unit Call Sign will be left on
the farm. The meeting scheduled on Saturday at Morris depot was
rescheduled because the war vets were late and they did not even attend
the next meeting.

Through the Enterprise valley, demands for cattle, food, transport and
interference with preparation for crops continues. The taskforce
attends to them as they arise but some frustration is experienced as the
same problems alway crop up.

Wedza - Invaders are building a house on the seed bed site on Rupaka
Farm. On Dean Farm the labour force was taken to the invaders' camp for
a meeting at 10 pm last night and only returned to work at 7:30 this
morning. A beast was shot on Saltash on Tuesday night, and 17 cattle
were slashed on Chakadenya Farm.

Marondera South - a group with a support unit went onto Chipesa Farm
yesterday to remove what was left of the furniture from the house. The
labour force is reaping the paprika at the moment and a support unit is
guarding the house. On one property there seem to be 2 conflicting
groups of war vets.

Harare South/Beatrice - There were two new invasions on Rosalin and
Verdun Farms. On York Farm uniformed soldiers arrived on one section and
ordered the invaders to leave. The soldiers left after the invaders
left.

Featherstone - There is intelligence gleaned at Rosarum Store near the
Dunn's Farm that more farmers are targeted by a hit squad. Those
involved have been informed and may evacuate for their safety.

Mashonaland West North
Doma - There was a stoppage of land prep for wheat on Kismet Farm.

Chinhoyi - On Hunyani Estates the invaders have demanded to use the shed
as shelter. There was a stoppage of land prep for wheat on Kuti Estate.
On Hwanga there was a land prep stoppage and the farmer was ordered to
remove his cattle by the end of the month, as was the farmer on Bonya.
Seed bed preparation was prevented on another property.

Ayshire - There was a new invasion on Mafuti Farm today.

The rest of the region was quiet.

Mashonaland West South
There was movement in Norton and Selous today, but the situation was
peaceful.

Matabeleland
There were two new invasions in the region today.

Manicaland
No report.

Masvingo
Mwenezi - Another farm was visited yesterday by war vets. They wanted
indications where they could stay and peg. The owner stated that he had
nothing for them and if he was to give away a piece of land he would do
so for his own workers who have been faithful to him. The war vets moved
off the farm.
Chiredzi - Governor Hungwe addressed a meeting at Fair Range Estates.
Present were war veterans and farmers.

Save Conservancy - It appears that out of discussions held with senior
Police Officials in Chiredzi that on Masapas, Levanga and Senuko Ranches
there appears to be a separate militant group of war vets. They refuse
to accept any instructions from the Governor, Dr. Hunzvi or even the
Police for that matter. Police are investigating, who they are, what
they are doing and what agenda they are following..

Mashava - All is quiet.

Masvingo East and Central District - Wayne Farm belonging to Anthony
Mitchell has reported that they have 10 war vets on their property.

Gutu / Chatsworth District - The owner of Blyth Farm has reported that
30 invaders have visited him to inform him that they are wanting to
start resettling on Appin Farm, which also belongs to him. Appin Farm
has already been designated for resettlement.

Midlands
Kwekwe - A farmer who has been threatened has evacuated his property for
the time being. It appears that there is a solution to the intimidation
and violence in this area.

One new invasion in Gweru

OTHER
Tracy, of the Wet Nose Society sends best wished to all and expresses
solidarity with all farmers who are being affected by invasions. She
will make special arrangements for anybody wanting to take domestic pets
to South Africa. She is in liaison with the Zimbabwe SPCA. Anybody
wishing to contact her directly can do so on 00-27-12-8037051