COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
INFORMATION ROOM
FARM INVASIONS UPDATE - 8 MAY 2000

There has been an emergency CFU Council Meeting this afternoon which is
still ongoing at the time of writing.

The National Task Force will continue to visit other districts around
the country this week.

Mashonaland East
On Sunday 7 May in the afternoon, approximately 8 people walked through
the main gates on Maas Plein Farm belonging to Allan Dunn. There was a
noise outside which Mr Dunn went to investigate. He was brutally
assaulted in his garage with sticks and iron bars. His wife alerted
neighbours who came to assist and evacuated Mr Dunn to Avenues Clinic,
where he died at 11:30 that evening. It must be stressed that this
property has never been invaded but personal threats had been made.

In Beatrice an incident has occurred and a war vet has filed an assault
report against a farmer.

At Mutemwa Farm ten youths have assaulted a tractor driver for no apparent reason and he is at the clinic.

Vrystaat Farm has been reinvaded. There was a work stoppage and someone
from the war vet Task Force went to defuse the situation. Elka Ranch
was invaded early this morning and the labourers were then moved to
Spring Farm.

On Draycott Farm invaders have taken over 300 ha and split it into 20 x
20 plots and sold it off at $5 each.

Mashonaland Central
Centenary - The Officer in Charge for Centenary has visited both Maclear
and Mavuradonha Farms and feels that there is no cause for concern, so
the owners have been advised to return. It appears that the man who
delivered the threat messages was dressed in police uniform, although
the Officer in Charge has stated that it was not one of the Centenary
Policemen.

Horseshoe - All quiet.

Victory Block - All quiet.

Mvurwi - There is a very small presence on Hariana Farm at this time and
a large group (about 20) at Fourstreams have gathered near the barns and
are demanding food and diesel or transport, which the owner has
refused. A tractor that was commandeered from Govete Farm has now been
returned.

Tsatsi - There is still a large group at Holme Eden Farm who are wanting
to peg the farm and it is suspected that some of them may move to
another farm in the area.

Glendale - A group of 60 have moved on to Kandy Farm and the situation
is calm at present. Brinkburn has been revisited today.

Mutepatepa/Bindura:
There were rallies held at Avoca and Foothills Farms yesterday, which
were peaceful, and the area is quiet today.

Shamva - The owners of Hippo Pools Camp in Umfurudzi have had to leave,
as there have been threats to burn the camp subsequent to allegations by
some ex-employees, who were laid off because of the lack of bookings for
the camp, that they had been laid off due to their political
affiliations.

Mazowe - All quiet.

Harare West/Nyabira - No major incidents to report.

Mashonaland West North
Trelawney, Darwendale, Banket, Mutoroshanga - Quiet

Chinhoyi - Invaders today chased tractors off the lands at Kuti
Estates. The local police have intervened and advised the farmer to
continue with his land prep. On Uplands Farm there is pegging going on.

Tengwe/Karoi - There has been a lot of movement in the area and very
volatile. Rydings School held
a meeting this afternoon to determine whether or not it would open for
term. It was decided that registration would take place today but school
will not open tomorrow.

70 people invaded Umboe Farm and have advised that they are taking the
whole farm and giving it to labourers on Highway and Mtunzi Farms.
They are making demands on the farmer.

A Tredar guard was assaulted at Raffingora Estates, and the farmer was
intimidated.

Mashonaland West South
Quiet.

Matabeleland

Shangani Turk Mine was visited over the weekend - peaceful.

Filabusi - All quiet although war vets still in residence

On Shamba Yetu Farm, a gang of about 10-14 men beat down the doors in
the compound and assaulted several labour on Saturday evening. On Sunday
morning the assaults started again and various items were stolen by the
intruders. Police reacted and 5 individuals were arrested and taken to
Beitbridge Police Station.

Masvingo
It has been reported that there is a lot of activity on the Buffalo
Range Ranch tar road. The invaders are cutting the Buffalo Range game
fences, moving onto the property in large numbers and are clearing land
and chopping trees as they go.

The situation at Hippo Valley is tense. The Mill and administration
blocks are a "no go" area. There have been threats to the Section
Managers - they have been told that if they come to work today they will
be abducted. There is a lot of intimidation and it is clearly a
political agenda. Two of the "A Police Reserve Men" have had to hand in
their batons, badges and radios. The private cane growers have not been
affected by this, although there has been threats to tractor drivers
along the roads.

It has been reported that the area between Mkwasine and Chiredzi is
clear today.

Ingwe (safari camp) yesterday had an invasion of approximately 850
people.

Manicaland
There have been quite a few reinvasions of farms, and a build-up of
numbers in the Middle-Save area. Many verbal death threats have been
received.

Midlands
No report as Regional Executive at Head Office attending meeting.

End