"The Zimbabwe Situation" news page
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Farmers in all districts of Mashonaland and countrywide are going out on
strike on Monday, 31st July 2000. We are downing tools, not delivering
any
produce to markets, not sending any tobacco to the floors.
This is our last chance, our last hope to demand a return to the rule of
law in Zimbabwe.

WE ARE NOT PROTESTING OVER LAND.

WE ARE PROTESTING AGAINST THE CONTINUED INACTION OF THE POWERS THAT BE TO
INSTRUCT THE POLICE TO DO WHAT WE ALL PAY THEM FOR.

Please support us by closing your businesses down, by not going to work
and
by asking all your colleagues and acquaintances to do likewise. Kindly
spread the word to everyone on your mailing list and help us to keep
feeding you.

Thank you,
Cathy Buckle
Marondera.

 CIVIL MISCHIEF



Many thanks to those of you who sent messages of support for the Glendale

(and other) farmers and their employees, which was sent out in a compiled

without letup. If you read through that

compiled list, which comprises omessage to the intended recipients.  Unfortunately, the latest reports

indicate that the anarchy continues nly a selection of the messages we have

received and are still receiving, you would have noticed, apart from support

for the actions of the farmers and their staff, one common theme - WHAT CAN

EVERYONE ELSE DO IN SUPPORT?



HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS



1.  AVOID FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT



a. Do not invest in Treasury Bills - as one of our readers suggests; "the

rate at which the government is borrowing through Treasury Bills raises the

risk that these short term borrowings will become long term borrowings by

being unilaterally changed into bonds" i.e. years before you get your

capital back. If you have funds on deposit with a financial institution, ask

them where they have invested your money.  It may well be in Treasury Bills.

Currently the government is trying to borrow enough money to pay off

NOCZIM's debts, so beware T.B.s as a potential credit risk.



b. "Avoid investing in state owned financial institutions. i.e. ZimBank, the

POSB, and others."



c. Withold and delay paying your taxes (includes Income, Sales and PAYE

taxes and all the various levies and surcharges) as another reader, MD of a

substantial company, writes; "I was surprised to see that people are urging

civil disobedience in the matter of  businesses not remitting their due and

lawful taxes.  This is most reprehensible of you. It is our bounden duty to

render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and every business must pay their taxes

and support the Administration of the day.  Certainly our organisation is

doing so, and will continue to do so. We do have a problem, however, with a

spate of absentmindedness amongst out staff. Our Accountants and CEO's

forget to sign the tax cheques, and their secretaries forget to give them to

the messenger, and the messenger forgets to post or deliver them. We also

can not be held accountable for the state of the Postal services and from

time to time we might have to claim that our 'cheque is in the post.'



YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE OPEN ABOUT THIS - ABSENTMINDEDNESS CAN BE CONTAGIOUS



2.  LOBBY FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FOREIGN ASSETS OF SENIOR GOVT PEOPLE



a. If you are in Zimbabwe, send a letter to the High Commissions and

Embassies of the United States, the United Kingdom, member countries of the

European Union, Australia, New Zealand, etc. urging them to get their

governments to investigate the foreign assets of senior ZanuPF officials.

The addresses are in the Harare phone book under "E" for Embassies, and "B"

for the British High Commission. Letters are better than emails, and less

easily "binned".



b. If you are outside Zimbabwe, send a letter to the High Commissions and

Embassies of the countries listed above in the country in which you live,

urging the same thing.  Also lobby your local MPs and Foreign Ministers if

you live outside Zimbabwe.



3. LOBBY FOR INCREASED FOREIGN PRESSURE



Lobby the same embassies and demand that greater pressure be applied until :



a. the rule of law is re-established i.e the army and police cease the reign

of terror in the cities.



b. the farm invaders have been withdrawn



The consensus of the hundreds of messages can be summarised as :



'The Glendale farmers and staff have put their safety at risk - the least we

can do is support them with civil disobedience.  We did it with Zimpapers -

we can do it with the rest.'
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   HARARE, July 25 (AFP) - War veterans occupying a farm in 
northern Zimbabwe assaulted the white owner on Tuesday, prompting
most of the district's farming community to surround the farm in
protest, local residents told AFP.
   The farmer, Dave Brand, was rushed to hospital by ambulance 
before the occupiers surrounded the house in Karoi, about 180
kilometres (110 miles) northwest of Harare.
   "One of our farmers has been assaulted by a war veteran. His 
wife and children are still in the home and war veterans have
surrounded it," a Karoi businesswoman told AFP in a telephone
interview.
   "Friends are grouping en masse to retrieve her and the 
children," said the woman, who asked not to be named.
   The farm is among more than 1,600 white-owned commercial farms 
that have been occupied by veterans of the country's liberation war
and their supporters since February to protest unequal land
distribution between whites and blacks.
   In the same district, the white business community joined with 
the farmers to shut down operations Tuesday to protest against
police inaction and to force the resignation of the local police
chief, whom farmers describe as a war veteran himself.
   "The village and farm district has closed down," said one 
businessman, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.
   He said the protest had annoyed the police chief, who reacted by 
urging war veterans to go around forcing shopkeepers and farmers to
reopen.
   He described the situation in Karoi as "very volatile" and said 
the police chief had used "foul language in front of people in the
street."
   Last week farmers in the district drew up a resolution to shut 
down in protest over ongoing lawlessness if farm operations
continued to be hampered.
   The often violent campaign to occupy white farms -- which has 
received the support of President Robert Mugabe -- has so far seen
the deaths of four white farmers and beatings meted out to scores of
black farm workers.
__________-
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   LONDON, July 25 (AFP) - British MPs demanded the power to vet 
arms exports Tuesday after censuring the government for breaking its
own rules by allowing spare parts for fighter planes to be sold to
Zimbabwe.
   In a joint report, four parliamentary committees denounced the 
"disturbing degree of muddle and confusion" in the running of export
licences to Zimbabwe after August 1998.
   That was the date when Harare intervened in the conflict in the 
Democratic Republic of Congo, siding with President Laurent Kabila
against rebels.
   The government announced in February that it would grant seven 
outstanding applications to export spare parts for Hawk aircraft to
Zimbabwe.
   However Foreign Secretary Robin Cook revoked the licences in May 
following increasing violence against white farmers in the former
British colony.
   The MPs' report said granting the licences had been "an error of 
judgment" and "undermined" an EU resolution on arms sales to
Zimbabwe.
   Noting that Britain had co-sponsored the EU resolution, they 
said London's behaviour "seems to have constituted a breach of the
UK's national criteria."
   The Hawks had been used in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 
there was "a clear risk that they might be so again," the report
added.
   "There can be few decisions of greater potential impact on the 
conduct of foreign relations, and on the lives of many people
overseas, as to whether to permit weapons made in this country to be
put into the hands of overseas and their forces.
   "There is understandable anger when it is found that 
British-made weapons have been used to oppress or terrorise people
or to endanger the lives of our service men and women or
civilians."
   The MPs demanded greater power in future to check arms export 
applications before they were granted by government ministers,
saying that the importance of the issue warranted "democratic
involvement."
   Junior foreign minister Peter Hain defended the export policy as 
"the most open and transparent of any government in the world."
   "We have a clear policy which says we won't sell arms for either 
internal oppression or external aggression," he told BBC radio.
   He said the Hawk planes had been sold by the last Conservative 
government, and the present Labour administration had only "supplied
a few parts."
   "When we realised this was not a sensible way to proceed," Hain 
added, "we immediately blocked those, and from May this year we have
not sold any spare parts to Zimbabwe.
   "Nor have we sold any arms to Zimbabwe, and we will not do so." 
   The report also said Britain needed to take a tougher line in 
interpreting the 1989 EU embargo on arms sales to China.
________
Tuesday, 25 July, 2000, 04:13 GMT 05:13 UK -BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_849000/849804.stm
              MPs demand to check
              arms exports

              MPs are demanding greater powers to check
              arms exports in a report which criticises the
              existing licensing system.

              In particular, the report singles out a
              "disturbing degree of muddle and confusion" in
              the operation of licences to Zimbabwe after
              August 1998 when Zimbabwe intervened in the
              Democratic Republic of Congo.

              Representatives of four powerful select
              committees say they should have "democratic
              involvement" in scrutinising shipments before
              they are approved by government ministers.

              The cross-party committee's report criticises a
              series of shortcomings in the licence system,
              although it maintains that ministers have not
              abused the current system.

              It said that granting
              licences which allowed
              the export of spare
              parts for Hawk aircraft
              to Zimbabwe this
              February, although later
              revoked, had
              "undermined the force"
              of an EU resolution.

              The decision, which
              came just two weeks after the government
              had promised to tighten up its export policy,
              was described by the committee as an "error
              of judgement".

              Prior scrutiny

              The Quadripartite Committee - comprising
              members of the Defence, Foreign Affairs,
              International Development and Trade and
              Industry committees - wants the power of
              prior scrutiny, which is already in operation in
              the US and Sweden.

              The committee said: "In our view the authority
              to export arms is of a different degree of
              sensitivity to other types of ministerial
              casework.

              "There can be few decisions of greater
              potential impact on the conduct of foreign
              relations, and on the lives of many people
              overseas, than whether to permit weapons
              made in this country to be put into the hands
              of overseas and their forces."
              MPs pointed out the UK
              had co-sponsored the
              EU resolution and its
              behaviour "seems to
              have constituted a
              breach of the UK's
              national criteria".

              The report went on to
              say the interpretation
              of a 1989 EU embargo
              on arms sales to China
              should be clearer, with
              the UK needing to take
              a stricter line.

              It also said it was "dismayed" the government
              had taken five months to respond to its
              previous report on strategic arms exports
              published in February this year.

              Immediate powers

              "There is understandable anger when it is
              found that British-made weapons have been
              used to oppress or terrorise people, or to
              endanger the lives of our service men and
              women or civilians," said MPs.

              The committee, chaired by Labour MP Ted
              Rowlands, wants the power to check exports
              from the next session of Parliament.

              Shadow Foreign Secretary Francis Maude said
              the committee's criticism of licences for
              Zimbabwe was a "good epitaph" for the
              government's ethical foreign policy.

              "Many were appalled when Labour granted
              licences for Hawk jet spare parts to Zimbabwe
              despite evidence showing that those planes
              were being used in the violent and bloody
              military adventure in the Congo," he said.

              "This latest report will consign Labour's 'ethical'
              foreign policy to the growing scrap heap of
              their broken promises."
______________


 
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I was reading "Breaking the Silence" - a report on the disturbances in
Matabeleland and the Midlands from 1980 to 1987 for which the notorious
Fifth Brigade was responsible, and came across a series of accounts like
this.  The reason why I am sending this on is that the man who sanctioned
incidents like the one below is the same one who is responsible for the
current suffering.
.

Diana Charsley

Western Tsholotsho, January 1983

The uniformed 5 Brigade soldiers arrived and ordered my husband to carry all
the chairs, a table, bed, blankets, clothes and put them in one room.  They
also took all our cash--we had $ 1500 saved, to buy a scotch cart.  They
then set fire to the hut and burnt all our property.

They accused my husband of having a gun which he did not have.  They shot at
him.  The first two times, they missed, but the third time they shot him in
the stomach and killed him.

They then beat me very hard, even though I was pregnant.  I told them I was
pregnant and they told me I should not have children for the whole of
Zimbabwe.  My mother-in-law tried to plead with them, but they shouted
insults at her.  They hit me in the stomach with the butt of the gun.  The
unborn child broke into pieces in my stomach.  The baby boy died inside.  It
was God's desire that I did not die too.  The child was born afterwards,
piece by piece.  A head alone, then a leg, an arm, the body--piece by piece.




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Investment in Zimbabwe
              shrinks 80% -BBC

              Figures released by the state-run Zimbabwe
              Investment Centre show that, year-on-year,
              investment in the country shrank eighty
              percent from January to May.

              The period includes the months leading up to
              Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections in June
              which saw mass invasions of white-owned
              farms by black squatters amid a climate of
              widespread political violence.

              Correspondents say high lending rates and high
              inflation also deterred investors.
___________
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__________

From the Telegraph [UK]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000898299165292&rtmo=V6wfVfrK&atmo=FFFFFaFX&pg=/et/00/7/25/wzim25.html

Farm strike spreads as white man is killed
By David Blair in Karoi

 WHITE farmers in Zimbabwe's agricultural heartland resolved to strike
yesterday after another member of their community was killed.

The 180 farmers in the Karoi area, north-west of Harare, said they were
stopping work because police had failed to curb the latest outbreak of
squatter violence.  They were furious after a police chief responded to
their complaints with threats of "war".

Forty-six farms in the Shamva area have already been closed in protest
at action by black militants, who have stepped up their intimidation
campaign amid impatience over government promises of land reform.
Landowners in Mazowe, Concession, Marondera and Tengwe have also
threatened to follow suit.  Three hundred or more farms could soon be on
strike in action which could badly hit the national economy.

Since squatters began their invasions in February, five white farmers
have been killed in the violence, and on Sunday night another man,
Willem Botha, who was in his sixties, was beaten to death by suspected
robbers.  Although squatters were not accused of involvement, other
farmers blamed his death on the "breakdown of law and order" caused by
the land invasions, which have been encouraged by President Robert
Mugabe.

In Karoi, farmers and their black employees have been subjected to
constant harassment this year.  More than 1,000 cases of assault have
been reported to the police, but not one arrest has been made.  Trouble
over the past few days has pushed the local farmers' association into
action.

On the Vuka estate, Fin and Jane O'Donoghue awoke with their three
children yesterday to find that squatters had barricaded them inside
their home.  "They said no one would be allowed in or out," said Mrs
O'Donoghue.
"They started forming up in ranks.  It looked like some military
manoeuvre was beginning."

The couple managed to flee with their 11-year-old daughter and sons,
aged five and 10.  Alarmed by their inability to make radio contact with
the O'Donoghues, 15 neighbours demanded action from a local police
chief, Supt Mabunda, and told him of their plans for a strike.
According to farmers who met him, Supt Mabunda told them: "Do you want
war?  If you want war, I will bring troops and we can have war.  I think
we will have war today."

They accused Supt Mabunda of collaborating with the squatters, although
he managed to defuse the situation at Vuka two hours later.  One farmer
said:
"Mabunda has been behind this all along.  He went and told those guys to
lay off for the day and come back tomorrow."

On nearby Kutepa farm, Craig Stirling made three attempts to drive his
tractor to his fields but was stopped by squatters each time.  On Nassau
farm, invaders ordered Dave Penny to stop all work.  When he tried to
take his tractors to the fields, they threatened to burn the vehicles.

Karoi is Zimbabwe's most fertile corner.  Its lush fields of wheat,
maize, tobacco and soya beans will be silent today.  Irrigation systems
will be switched off and crops will neither be reaped nor sown.  Mr
Penny said: "It's going to have a great effect on the economy.  We have
to do it and we have nothing to lose now."

The resolve of landowners was hardened by the news of Mr Botha's murder
near Beatrice, 50 miles south of Harare.  His television was stolen.
Few white farmers believe that the killing can be separated from the
current crisis.  A neighbour said: "Thanks to the land invasions, there
is no law and order and we are all considered fair game."

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Businessmen in a Zimbabwe town have began shutting their shops and 150 white farmers have stopped work in protest at the breakdown in law and order.
As the stoppage took hold in Karoi, 125 miles north-west of Harare, the Commercial Farmers Union says a group of about 50 ruling party militants assaulted local farmer David Brand .
The condition of Mr Brand, who was admitted to hospital, is unknown.
Farmers have submitted a list of demands to police, including the removal of the district police chief in Karoi, says Chris Shepherd, a spokesman for the group.
The group is also hiring lawyers to sue the police chief, known only as Chief Superintendent Mabunda, for assaulting a farmers' wife at the police station.
Shepherd says witnesses reported Mabunda struck the woman in the face, pushed his finger up her nose and used obscene language while she was being jostled by four other officers.
Mabunda allegedly told a crowd outside and farmers who were called to defuse the incident that he would fight the district's whites, declaring: "we'll give you war."
The woman, whose family asked for her not to be identified, is being treated for shock.
Wayne Bvudzijena, a police spokesman in Harare, says he has no report of the incident, adding that any complaints against the Karoi police chief will be investigated.
Tim Henwood, head of the farmers' union, warned that farm stoppages are likely to spread across the country unless the government stops violence and intimidation by illegal occupiers claiming rights to more than 1,600 white-owned farms.
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Zimbabwe Farm Strike Spreads - The Associated Press - Jul 25 2000 9:42AM ET
Zimbabwe White Farmers' Union Goes to Court - Reuters - Jul 25 2000 1:59PM ET
Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Calls for Aid Resumption, Paper Says - Bloomberg News - Jul 25 2000 3:03AM
Union Says Zimbabwe Violence May Halt White Farming - Reuters - Jul 25 2000 7:17AM ET
COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION - FARM INVASIONS UPDATE: TUESDAY 25 JULY 2000 (& including pettition to H/E President Robert Mugabe)
 
Zimbabwe Farm Strike Spreads
The Associated Press - Jul 25 2000 9:42AM ET

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Businessmen in a provincial town began shutting down stores and at least 150 white farmers stopped working Tuesday in what farm officials called the biggest action so far to protest a breakdown in law and order here.

Tim Henwood, head of the union that represents many of Zimbabwe's white farmers, warned that farm stoppages would likely spread across the country unless the government stops violence and intimidation by the thousands of people illegally occupying white-owned farms. Nationwide work stoppages would bring the already suffering economy closer to a complete collapse.

``In the interests of the safety and our members and their workers it may soon become impossible for farming operations to continue nationwide,'' Henwood said in a statement.

It was the latest development in a crisis that has enveloped Zimbabwe for almost six months.

Most of Zimbabwe's whites are descendants of South African or British settlers. Since February, militants have illegally occupied or claimed more than 1,600 white-owned farms across the country - an occupation President Robert Mugabe has described as a justified demonstration against unfair land ownership by the 4,000 white farmers, who own about a third of the nation's productive land.

As the work stoppage took hold Tuesday in and around the town of Karoi, 125 miles northwest of Harare, about 50 militants assaulted local farmer David Brand, who was hospitalized with injuries, the union representing white farmers said. No further details of the attack were immediately available, and Brand's condition was unknown.

Also in Karoi, farmers backed by town leaders who closed some businesses submitted a list of demands to police, including the removal of the district police chief, whom they accuse of fanning tensions.

About 150 farms in the Karoi district, a main tobacco and corn growing area, began shutting down their operations on Tuesday, farmers' spokesman Chris Shepherd said. About another 100 farmers in neighboring Tengwe district were considering similar stoppages.

On Monday, a sixth white farmer was found beaten to death south of Harare after an apparent robbery attempt. Neighbors blamed the killing on an upsurge in crime triggered by the illegal farm occupations.

Henwood said authorities had made no arrests in the six farmers' deaths, the first of which came in March.

On July 15, Vice President Joseph Msika promised that the government would immediately begin removing illegal occupiers from farms. Since then, little has happened, Henwood said.

He said occupiers were building shelters amid farms' fields and work areas, farm animals were being slaughtered and death threats against farmers refusing to hand over land were increasing. In southern ranching and wild life areas, swathes of indigenous trees were being felled, wrecking the environmental balance and destroying the remnants of eco-tourism potential, he added.

``Clearly, it is impossible to continue normal farming operations in these circumstances,'' Henwood said.

Zimbabwe White Farmers' Union Goes to Court

Reuters - Jul 25 2000 1:59PM ET

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's white farmers filed an urgent application in the High Court on Tuesday in a bid to force police to act against self-styled war veterans leading a violent campaign on illegally occupied farms.

Bill Masterson, a lawyer for the Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU), which groups white commercial farmers in the southern African country, told Reuters that the CFU had also petitioned President Robert Mugabe for his intervention.

``We do not have a date for the hearing but we are hoping that his excellency (President Robert Mugabe) will intervene before we go to court,'' Masterson said.

Tuesday's court application is among the many the CFU has filed since the occupations started in February. The government has refused to act against the veterans despite court orders to do so.

The 4,500-strong CFU wants the court to order Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to act against the veterans and to use his powers to ensure that all new invasions of white-owned farms are halted.

The farmers' union also applied for another order to force the War Veterans Association to remove its members and their followers from all occupied farms.

The court application came as the CFU reported stepped-up anarchy on occupied farms.

White farmers in Zimbabwe's Karoi district stopped work on Tuesday in protest against the latest attack on a colleague as the country's land crisis deepened following elections in June.

Farming officials in Karoi, 210 km (130 miles) northwest of Harare, said self-styled war veterans had beaten farmer David Brands unconscious on Tuesday morning.

They said his injuries were not life-threatening.

One official said the entire farming community in Karoi had closed down in protest against the increasing violence against its members and farm laborers.

``The situation in Karoi is very volatile at the moment and the police are not doing anything,'' one official said, adding that most private businesses in the town had also closed down in solidarity.

WHITE FARM MECHANIC BEATEN TO DEATH

On Sunday a white mechanic was beaten to death in a suspected robbery at his farm 50 km (30 miles) south of Harare. Police and the CFU said the killing did not appear to be linked to the invasions.

The attacks were the first reported against white farmers since the June election in which President Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party saw its majority slashed.

At least 31 people including opposition activists, farm workers and five white farmers were killed in pre-election violence linked to invasions of white-owned farms by self-styled veterans of the former Rhodesia's 1970s liberation war.

The CFU said on Tuesday that threats and invasions by land-hungry black groups might force its members to halt farming nationwide.

The CFU said intimidation and interference by groups who have moved onto hundreds of white-owned farms since February had escalated, despite the government's announcement this month of plans for the orderly transfer of land from whites to blacks.

It urged Mugabe's government to remove the invaders, many of whom call themselves veterans of the war against white rule, from the farms, ``where they are endangering life and limb and interfering with our farming operations.''

The government said this month it would start moving landless black peasants and war veterans from occupied farms onto 200 properties it has acquired for resettlement.

The government has vowed to eventually take over some 800 white-owned farms for resettlement. Farmers are challenging the legality of the seizure of around 500 of them.

The CFU had hoped the invasions would end after Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party narrowly defeated the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the June 24-25 polls.

The turmoil has exacerbated Zimbabwe's worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1980. Inflation and unemployment rates are at record highs and the country is acutely short of fuel and foreign exchange.

Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Calls for Aid Resumption, Paper Says

Bloomberg News - Jul 25 2000 3:03AM

Johannesburg, July 25 (Bloomberg) -- Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of Zimbabwe's biggest opposition party, plans to ask the International Monetary Fund and other international agencies to resume aid to the southern African country, South Africa's Business Day newspaper reported. The IMF suspended aid to Zimbabwe because of the country's unwillingness to cut government spending. ``We are all faced with the same problem -- an economy in meltdown -- and we have to tackle it in a spirit of unity,'' said Tsvangirai, whose Movement for Democratic Change won 57 of 120 seats in last month's parliamentary elections, the newspaper reported.

Zimbabwe is in the midst of its worst economic crisis in more than two decades with motor and cooking fuel in short supply since December and foreign currency reserves sufficient to meet only two to three weeks of import needs, according to the Daily News newspaper.

Union Says Zimbabwe Violence May Halt White Farming

Reuters - Jul 25 2000 7:17AM ET

HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's white farmers union said Tuesday threats and invasions by land-hungry black groups might force its members to halt farming nationwide.

The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) said intimidation and interference by groups who have moved onto hundreds of white-owned farms since February had escalated, despite the government's announcement this month of plans for orderly land transfers of land from whites to blacks.

``In the interest and safety of our members and their workers it may soon become impossible for farming operations to continue nationwide,'' CFU President Tim Henwood said in a statement.

``Invaders continue to interrupt the irrigation of the wheat and barley crop as well as tobacco seed-beds. Land preparation for the summer crop is behind schedule across the country,'' Henwood added.

He urged President Robert Mugabe's government to remove the invaders, many of whom call themselves veterans of the 1970s war against white rule, from the farms, ``where they are endangering life and limb and interfering with our farming operations.''

The government said this month it would start moving landless black peasants and war veterans from occupied farms onto 200 properties it has acquired for resettlement.

The government has vowed to eventually take over some 800 white-owned farms for resettlement. Farmers are challenging the legality of the seizure of around 500 of them.

At least 31 people, including five white farmers and more black opposition activists and farm workers, were killed in violence that accompanied the farm invasions and was directed at the opposition ahead of a parliamentary elections last month.

The CFU, which groups the country's 4,500 mainly white commercial farmers, had hoped the invasions would end after Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party narrowly defeated the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the June 24-25 polls.

But the CFU said Monday farmers in districts east of Harare were still under pressure from war veterans extorting food and transport.

Sunday a white mechanic was beaten to death in a suspected robbery at his farm 50 km (30 miles) south of Harare. Police and the CFU said the killing did not appear to be linked to the invasions.

The turmoil has exacerbated Zimbabwe's worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1980. Inflation and unemployment rates are at record highs and the country is acutely short of fuel and foreign exchange.
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COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION - FARM INVASIONS UPDATE: TUESDAY 25 JULY 2000

PETITION
 
TO
 
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF
 
ZIMBABWE
 
THE HONOURABLE ROBERT GABRIEL MUGABE

I, the undersigned, TIMOTHY HENWOOD, in my capacity as President of the Commercial Farmers Union, do hereby humbly request His Excellency to intervene in bringing to an end the perils faced by all those involved in commercial farming in Zimbabwe as a result of the resurgence of land invasions by war veterans and others which are in imminent danger of causing a major conflagration throughout the farming areas of the country.

I annexe hereto a copy of an Urgent Chamber Application that has been filed with the High Court in which the Union has felt constrained to include His Excellency, in his official capacity, as a Respondent to the  to the proceedings.  This has been done to enable His Excellency to meet averments made in the Application and to deal with further averments which may be made by the other Respondents in replying to the Application.

Copies of this Urgent Chamber Application have already been served upon all the Respondents and the Civil Division of the Attorney General's Office.

I have, however, instructed our legal practitioners not to proceed with securing a hearing of the Application at this point.  The Certificate of Service of the Application upon the Respondents is therefore being withheld.
 
The attention of His Excellency is drawn to the closing provisions of Paragraph 9.10 of the affidavit of the Union's Director, Mr D W Hasluck, upon which the High Court Application is founded.  In particular attention is drawn to the top of Page 12 in which it is stated that:-  " The Union looks to His Excellency the President to play a positive and constructive role in this regard - [i.e. stopping the violence and lawlessness that presently prevails] - and to do so even before this matter
has to go to Court."

The Union and its members really do face enormous dangers both to the individuals who make up the farming community and to their general productivity.  The Chairman of the War Veterans Association has, with respect, acted in a most unfortunate manner by promoting a resurgence of the farm invasions and by doing so in a manner which is calculated so to aggravate tensions In this regard attention is drawn in particular to the Reuters report of a statement made by Dr. Hunzvi on 15 July 2000.  A copy of that report appears as Page (3b) in the accompanying papers where it is annexed to the Certificate of Urgency.  Steps are also being taken to obtain a copy of a televised recording of Dr. Hunzvi's statement on that occasion. This recording was made at Dr. Hunzvi's own behest.

The Council of the Union and I as its President are under great pressure to take positive and effective steps to redress the fast deteriorating security situation that presently prevails on the farms.  The Union cannot allow matters to deteriorate further.  The Union nevertheless believes that it is in the interests of Zimbabwe as a whole that the situation be addressed and be addressed effectively by His Excellency the President and that it be seen to be addressed by His Excellency.  The Chamber Application and attendant publicity can only harm the image of Zimbabwe if the Courts find themselves obliged to make further rulings against the Commissioner of Police and to comment on His Excellency's participation in the land invasions to date.

The urgency of this Petition is occasioned by the fact reports are being received that  the situation in parts of the Beatrice area as of this morning has deteriorated to one of open conflict and the situation reported from Karoi is so explosive as to be likely to follow suit within hours.  The consequences of such lawlessness must impact not only upon the productivity of the farming industry but also on the ability of our farmers to market their produce and to secure foreign currency for the country.  The
downstream effect on commerce and industry and the lack of employment for thousands of people can only make matters worse.
 
The Union is already beseiged with numerous media enquiries as to what is being done about the situation and our members must be protected.  I am accordingly already having to advise the media that this Petition is being made and that we may yet have to proceed with the Chamber Application to the High Court.
 
The Union thus respectfully petitions His Excellency to consider these papers immediately and to accept a delegation from the Union to reinforce the urgency of this request.  The Union most earnestly prays that His Excellency will react immediately and anxiously awaits a response.


DATED AT HARARE THIS                  DAY OF JULY 2000.
 
 ......................................................
TIMOTHY HENWOOD
 
 
REGIONAL REPORTS
 
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Centenary - The war vets attempted to stop work at Chidikamwedzi and Mutuatua, and police negotiated with them to allow tobacco grading and the watering of seed beds to continue.  Labour at Ashford farm had a confrontation with war vets over land pegging.  The owner managed to defuse the situation, but was then accused by the vets of instigating his workers to peg land. The war vets have threatened to bring in support and the situation is very tense.  The owners' wife has received a threatening phone call.
Horseshoe - All previously evacuated farmers are now back on their farms with assurances from ZRP. War vets are becoming increasingly restless and militant, but ZRP are keeping the situation stable.  The owner of Penrose farm received a death threat and there was an attempted work stoppage on the farm, which was resolved by ZRP.  The owners of Naini Tal, Duneverty and Makashwe all had attempted work stoppages which were successfully prevented by the ZRP.
Mvurwi - There has been pegging on M'sonneddi and Chidziwa/Waddon Chase, which is being monitored by the police.
Tsatsi - There was a large build at "Mazita Base" yesterday afternoon.  Later the same afternoon approximately half of the crowd drifted down to Wychwood farm and Cairnsmore farm boundary.  Four war vets with a dozen male supporters arrived at Dorking farm and told the owner to vacate within 24 hours. This group moved on to Zanadu farm and became aggressive when their demand for fuel was denied. The owner was threatened with eviction and the group stated they would return with numbers and take over the whole farm. (These war vets stated that they were communists, and not interested in the Government land acquisition, and they were going to take all farms).  ZRP Concession were notified, but stated they had no transport and would not travel in farmers vehicle.  They arrived two hours after the event.
The large crowd assembled at Dandamera township awaiting transport to invade Falling Waters. There are 40 pegging Cranham and awaiting instructions.
Glendale - There was a visit by war vets to the labour housing on Harmony. Money changed hands between war vets and farm labour over plots of land.  Approximately 12 to 15 people arrived on Avonduur Farm wanting maps for Wolfhill and Leopard Vlei so they can peg.  The war vets are awaiting the return of the owner.  A vehicle with unknown occupants arrived on Chabara farm.  The owner is away so they left.  The situation on Mukoko Farm is quiet but there is still a presence of 20 war vets.
Mutepatepa - The owner of Mountain View Farm was given a 3 day eviction notice by the leader of the war vets. There is a build up of numbers on Avoca farm and Lagnaha. On Brockley a very old leader of the war vets was demanding to see the owner who is away. The supervisor on Munzi Farm was abducted by 10 war vets and taken to Chenenga farm. The labour was extremely distressed, but he has since been returned unharmed.
Mazowe/Concession - The owner of Sumerset/Riversdale farm was visited two days ago by war vets who wanted to occupy the homestead.  The war vets padlocked the security gate.  The police were informed and they broke the lock.  A farm worker from Raffeen farm was assaulted by war vets at Panhowe Butchery.  
Shamva - There has been no change on Woodlands A and Woodlands B.  War vets have not allowed the owner of Annandale to leave his home, but work is continuing.  There was an attempted work stoppage on Sunray, which was resolve by the Police.
Harare West/Nyabira - There has been groups of war vets competing for pegging land on Stockade Farm.  A large number of people were demanding this morning that owner of Warick vacates the house.  Police were informed but have not yet reacted.
Victory Block - Yesterday war vet Kangachepi and 4 others went to Mutendamambo and demanded the owner signed a book authorising the handing over of the farm. He refused and a verbal altercation ensued. The war vets eventually left for the Msitwe River Ranch. A report was made to the ZRP Mvurwi, who attended the scene. At Msitwe River Ranch, the 5 war vets entered the farm village early evening and threatened the farm mechanic. Earlier yesterday farm invaders stopped workers from placing irrigation pegs. They told the workers to remove these pegs but workers refused and then continued work once the invaders had left.
On Prangmere Farm five farm guards prevented thieves from entering the orchard to steal oranges. The owner reports hearing poachers with dogs last night along the Prangmere/Rusumbi boundary. On Birkdale Farm the workshop foreman reports seeing 6 poachers and 10-15 dogs on the farm. This was reported to ZRP Mvurwi, who did not attend. 
 
MASHONALAND EAST
Marondera North - Most of the situations here are ongoing but peaceful.
Marondera South - On Lendy war vets demanded transport to collect youths from Marondera to peg the farm. The farmer refused this so 3 or 4 pegged the farm on their own. They returned on Sunday and told the manager to vacate his house by Monday afternoon or else they would burn the house, tractors and shed. The police said that they would get the culprits picked up.
There has been hunting with five dogs on Tranquility farm. On Wenimbe land preparation is still being prevented for the next tobacco crop due to huts being built in the land.  The game fence on Esperance is being cut regularly and scotchcarts from the resettlement area are coming onto the farm to remove firewood. War vet Edward Msaka told the owner of Stow that he will return tomorrow with the people that pegged the farm, with livestock to plough their fields and settle on the farm. The police reported that they have had no directive to help yet.
Beatrice - Approximately 120 people arrived on Plumstead and waited for their leader. When he arrived he realised they were on the wrong farm and he told them to leave the farm. They became upset, started shouting, and the leader went to the police station. Some of the vehicles followed him and a meeting was held in the Member in Charge's office for a few hours. The outcome is still unknown.
On Joyce Mine war vet Zhou appeared to make sure that the people are moving off the farm so that the war vets can move in. On Argyle cripple war vet Chidzindi has moved his Chinese tractor onto the farm. He could not get through the main gate, demanded the keys for the gate and when the farmer refused, he broke the lock. The MIC has been contacted. Stirling has been pegged and shelters put up.
Harare South - Trinket, Bramar, Donota, Tentelen and Cordor, which all run along the river, were pegged extensively as an extension of Chitungwisa and the farmers were told that they were solely residential plots. The war vets tried to prevent the farmers from stalk destruction and land preparation next year. The farmers went ahead, however, and the war vets are unhappy about this.
Wedza - Building and tree cutting continues on Hele, Makombe, Bickley, Chudley, Skoenveld and Anstey. The work stoppage on Rapako continues. Labour are becoming restless and there is a risk of them taking the law into their own hands. Support Unit was expected last week but did not arrive. When the owner sought assistance from the Wedza police he was refused an RRB number by Sgt Chiwarito because the RRB book is full and the Government Printers are no longer producing them. 40 huts have been built on the property. Dispol sent a team there today to try and resolve the problem.  There was fish poaching on Fair Adventure, and occupiers making bricks in one of the paddocks continue to play havoc with the cattle. Hut building and tree cutting continues.  There is an increase in numbers on Collace and huts are being built on Bendati.
Macheke/Virginia - This morning war vets were carrying out a major demonstration and pegging. They have also said that current work can continue but the farmers are not allowed to start any new jobs. In some cases they are not even allowed to water their seed beds. The war vets met with the labour last night telling them that they must not be alarmed by all of the pegging because they are merely demonstrating.
Widespread stoppages have resumed today following visit to a number of farms last night and the issuing of instruction to resident war vets to tell farmers to concentrate cattle into one paddock so that pegging can occur.
Bromley/Ruwa - Whiteside was occupied. War vets are beginning to peg land already pegged by other factions, which may cause problems. Extensive amounts of timber are being removed from Exelsior farm by the Epworth residents. The owner of Dunedin was visited by a group saying they were taking over the farm. They left once they realised they had the wrong farm.
Enterprise - War vets and farmers are now tired of waiting for a clear resettlement program to be implemented.  There has been an increase in numbers on Chibuti.
Featherstone - Relatively quiet. One farmer was told to move his cattle. On Kuruman there is an increase in peggers, who tried to stop the ploughing.  There is general pegging and war vet activity on about 15 farms this morning.
 
MASHONALAND WEST NORTH
Chinhoyi -  The owner of Kuti Farm was told to remove his cattle and vacate the farm by Wednesday this week. Threats were made and there were large numbers at the farm gate on Laurenton Farm. Support unit defused the situation. 
11 sheep have been stolen on Montgomery Farm and one on Blue Hills Farm.  There have been 3 cattle and 1 kudu snared on 
Fynnlands Farm.  The owner of Shubara/Renfield has been told to remove the cattle. The owner of Ormiston was threatened with a work stoppage and told to vacate the farm. A veld fire was caused by poachers on Kanami Estates. On Dondo Farmthere was a visit from Chimanda (ex CID) asking about land given to war vets.  A kudu has been slaughtered on Sheepridge Farm. The owner's wife on Fairplay was threatened.  The owner of Kuti Estates received a letter in which he was told to move cattle and to vacate by today.  The owner of Mutala Farm was threatened and told to vacate by J. Chikore. This has been reported to the police.
Karoi - Karoi farmers closed their operations down at 0600 today.  Karoi town have partially closed their operations in sympathy with the farmers, with whom they do business.  All farmers want a return to law and order.  Late this morning David Brand of Gremlin Farm was beaten unconscious and was extricated by the reaction unit.  His wife and children have been evacuated. 
Monday 24 - There was movement on Chisaki Farm and trees being cut.  2 poachers were apprehended yesterday for killing 2 wildebeest on Ruwansi Ranch. On Kupeta irrigation pipes have been moved twice within a week. ZRP were initially extremely unhelpful but eventually acted.  The owner of Collingwood was told to vacate within 24 hours. There is some poaching on Inyati, and extensing poaching on Vuka Farm. A game scout had his rifle confiscated, which led to a confrontation between labour and war vets. A police inspector who was alerted to this said he had no right to interfere with war vets' activities. 4 labourers were assaulted. Yesterday morning the family was barricaded in the farm but managed to escape using a back exit. Police have been extremely unhelpful and Mabunda was very aggressive and hostile towards the farmers. Work stoppages on Nassau and Protea were also not acted on by Mabunda.
Woodcutting and some thefts have taken place on Landithy.  On Lanlory 11 dogs have been moved into a structure at the gate and a labourer has been bitten. 9 visited and left Moniak.  There have been disruptions to cattle operations on Deerwood, and a cattle employee was assaulted and threatened. Permanant structures are being built on Furzon, and pegging is taking place in the front garden on Buffalo Downs.
Tengwe - None of the Tengwe farms that have been illegally occupied are designated.   
Only grading is allowed on Kapena Farm.  No land prep is permitted on Parendale and Alpha.  Grading and seedbeds continuing on Medbury.  There has been no change on Welgin, Murambi, Beltane/Paradys/Utopia, Beaugeste.  Land prep and pre-irrigation has been stopped, grading and seedbeds continue and catlle have been driven off Dendanyani, Jaybury/Jambo, Silver Lining. Mpata has continued land prep but war vets now claim this land is theirs and therefore no tobacco can be planted.   All of the above farms are controlled by a group led by Peter Ncube. 
50ha of land prep has been stopped on Inanda Farm. The manager has been told to vacate twice in the space of a week. Illegal brickmaking is occurring on: Gwiwa,  Inanda, Driftwood,  Kukura, Glendene and Ian Penny. Land prep was stopped on Glen Craig, and there was a work stoppage on Ian Penny yesterday. 
At about 10:30 on Saturday 22 July  approximately 75 people gathered at the security fence of Glen Craig. They had been into the workers village and chased everyone out. The neighbouring farmers reacted and evacuated the family.The labour force, including the women and children spent the night in the bush, were told not to go to work any more and were told to pack their belongings and leave the farm. They were told if any of them went to work they would be killed. On Sunday, the owner and  police returned to the farm to take reports from the employees.  This is the fourth time that this has happened to the labour.  
 
MASHONALAND WEST SOUTH
Norton - Lovejoy arrived on Fort Martin Farm with approximately 80 people from the communal area whom he apparently paid.  They pegged and told the owner that he was not allowed to ridge or plant tobacco.  Lovejoy then visited Nyagori Farm.  On Serui Source war vets from Harare were paying peggers $70.00 per day. 
Selous - On Arbor Farm there was a meeting which police believe was attended by 600 war veterans, coming from as far away as Masvingo, Chinhoyi, Kadoma and Harare. Much tree cutting is taking place and police say that they will start making arrests. On Pilmuir Farm vets threated to evict the domestic worker from his house. On Mount Carmel Farm there were 3 shots heard last night and there have been shots heard on Northleigh and Violets Vale farms over the last few nights.
Chakari - On Blackmorvale there are in excess of 300 people cutting trees, building huts and devastating the environment. On Rondor Farm numbers are increasing all the time with permanent structures being built.  On Newbiggin numbers are also increasing with people mostly from the Midlands province.
Suri Suri - On Cambustrennie a group led by Masiwa say that they are taking all the farm and that they do not care what President Mugabe says.  They are selling plots. On San Fernando scotch carts and donkeys have been brought on and house building continues in earnest.
Chegutu - The owner of Farnham took plastic bags off pegs so that the dairy cows would not eat them.  There was subsequently a threatening situation around the security fence, and vets cut a tree down to barricade the road.  Mr Gundry was mobbed but managed to escape.  The police still had not arrived 4 hours after the report was made.  On Stewartonia Farm war vets broke into the house but have not stolen anything.
Kadoma - Police visited Queensdale with a form to find out how many workers and war vets were on the farm.  The reason for this is unknown. Approximately 40 people arrived on Kanyemba, half of them being gold panners making the most of the situation.
 
MASVINGO
Masvingo East and Central - There are 12 occupying Beauly Farm. Pegging continues on Shallock Park and Vredenburg Farms. There was an escalation of numbers on Chidza. There are still cattle grazing on Dromore Farm. On Springfields beef management has been disrupted, tree cutting and hut building continues.
Chiredzi - One of the managers on Malilangwe Ranch was threatened. The Fairange Estates game scout in the Harare hospital has been taken out of intensive care, and is paralysed in both legs and one arm. There is continued tree cutting and the building of structures on the ranch.
Mwenezi - There is continued pegging and tree cutting in the area, and fires being started on Lumbergia Ranch. Battlefields was occupied, with threats of escalating numbers. On Nkumi poaching and wire theft are ongoing and have been reported to the police.
Save Conservancy - 15 poachers have been arrested on Sango Ranch in the last 15 days. 3 of them have been sentenced to 9 months imprisonment. Some of them are war vets. A follow-up was made yesterday with a helicopter and 3 war vets were followed onto an adjacent ranch. Unarmed police on the ground were charged at with pangas and sticks when they tried to apprehend the perpetrators. They will return today with arms.
Gutu/Chatsworth - There is continued tree-cutting and structures being built.
  
MANICALAND
Odzi - War vets were trying to build huts inside the security fence on Mabakka Farm this morning.
 
MATABELELAND
No report. 
 
MIDLANDS
Kwekwe - There is extensive tree cutting on Hunters Moon Farm and Beta Farms. On Eduan Estates 2 war vets say they have been instructed to cut trees randomly throughout the farm. 2 MCBs were stolen from Mooi Rivier Estate. A cow was slaughtered on Delville Wood Estate and one on Sebakwe Farms. Police are investigating.
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Z I M N E W S

25 July 2000 

In today's issue:

From News24 (SA), 24 July

Another Zim farmer killed

Harare - An elderly white farmer was killed on his farm south of Harare on Sunday night. Willem Botha, believed to be in his late 60s, was beaten to death by intruders who surprised him while he was watching television in his cottage in the Featherstone area, about 100km south of Harare, said local security co-ordinator Kota Benade. "It was a break-in," Benade said. "It wasn't politically motivated, it was just robbery. But it is all directly related to police ineffectiveness." Botha's body was found on Monday morning. He was the sixth white man to be murdered on a farm since guerrilla war veterans launched a campaign of often violent invasions of white-owned farms in February. Three of the killings, in April and May, were political assassinations with veterans loyal to Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party blamed. The other three murders were ascribed to robbery. Benade said Botha acted as a caretaker on the farm and lived alone in his cottage, close to the busy main southern highway from Harare. There was no sign of forced entry into the cottage and the only item known to be stolen was a television set.

The incident came amid rising anxieties among white farmers over the failure by most police to take action against veterans who farmers said appeared to have almost complete immunity from the law. On Monday, Joseph Made, the new agriculture minister, warned farmers not to carry out threats to close down their farms, and told farmers to report problems to police. "We cannot have a few people threatening the majority because if they go ahead it will mean that everyone will go hungry," he said. "Anyone who feels threatened should go to the police." Made's remarks were published in the daily state-controlled Herald newspaper, as farmers in the Karoi area, 200km north of Harare, said they would have to close down because they were facing "a life threatening situation," and were receiving no response from police. Farmer Fin O'Donaghue on Monday had to drive through a hole he cut in his security fence and flee with his wife, Jane, and three young children after veterans barricaded his front gate and dug trenches across the road on his farm, Vuka. O'Donaghue had to make his way to safety by driving across back roads in the district, said neighbour Chalkie van Schalkwyk.

However, farmers in the area said police reacted after two hours, and "defused" the situation. "It's calm on Vuka farm now." Van Schalkwyk said that on another farm in the area, veterans were holding 10 workers hostage and had seized a tractor used to irrigate fields on Monday morning. "Police have been very unco-operative," he said in a telephone interview. "These are potentially life-threatening situations, but we have had no response. It's very tense. We are getting to where we are going to have to close down the whole system in the area. We are not holding the government or the economy to ransom. All we want is law and order so we can get on with farming." In the Glendale and Shamva districts about 70km north of Harare, farmers closed down their farms last week in protest against the failure by police to take action against veterans on their farms. The two districts went back to work immediately after police took action and removed veterans from homesteads from which they had driven their owners. In the Macheke area, 120km east of Harare, about 30 farmers closed down after being told by veterans to stop work on Friday last week. "It was not a strike, it was a work stoppage by war vets," said Steve Pratt, the CFU's administrator in the area. "They were dropping people on farms and threatening them if they worked. Rather than risk people's safety, work stopped."

From The Daily Telegraph, (UK), 25 July

Farm strike spreads as white man is killed

Karoi - WHITE farmers in Zimbabwe's agricultural heartland resolved to strike yesterday after another member of their community was killed. The 180 farmers in the Karoi area, north-west of Harare, said they were stopping work because police had failed to curb the latest outbreak of squatter violence. They were furious after a police chief responded to their complaints with threats of "war". Forty-six farms in the Shamva area have already been closed in protest at action by black militants, who have stepped up their intimidation campaign amid impatience over government promises of land reform. Landowners in Mazowe, Concession, Marondera and Tengwe have also threatened to follow suit. Three hundred or more farms could soon be on strike in action which could badly hit the national economy.

Since squatters began their invasions in February, five white farmers have been killed in the violence, and on Sunday night another man, Willem Botha, who was in his sixties, was beaten to death by suspected robbers. Although squatters were not accused of involvement, other farmers blamed his death on the "breakdown of law and order" caused by the land invasions, which have been encouraged by President Robert Mugabe. In Karoi, farmers and their black employees have been subjected to constant harassment this year. More than 1,000 cases of assault have been reported to the police, but not one arrest has been made.

Trouble over the past few days has pushed the local farmers' association into action. On the Vuka estate, Fin and Jane O'Donoghue awoke with their three children yesterday to find that squatters had barricaded them inside their home. "They said no one would be allowed in or out," said Mrs O'Donoghue. "They started forming up in ranks. It looked like some military manoeuvre was beginning." The couple managed to flee with their 11-year-old daughter and sons, aged five and 10. Alarmed by their inability to make radio contact with the O'Donoghues, 15 neighbours demanded action from a local police chief, Supt Mabunda, and told him of their plans for a strike. According to farmers who met him, Supt Mabunda told them: "Do you want war? If you want war, I will bring troops and we can have war. I think we will have war today."

They accused Supt Mabunda of collaborating with the squatters, although he managed to defuse the situation at Vuka two hours later. One farmer said: "Mabunda has been behind this all along. He went and told those guys to lay off for the day and come back tomorrow." On nearby Kutepa farm, Craig Stirling made three attempts to drive his tractor to his fields but was stopped by squatters each time. On Nassau farm, invaders ordered Dave Penny to stop all work. When he tried to take his tractors to the fields, they threatened to burn the vehicles. Karoi is Zimbabwe's most fertile corner. Its lush fields of wheat, maize, tobacco and soya beans will be silent today. Irrigation systems will be switched off and crops will neither be reaped nor sown. Mr Penny said: "It's going to have a great effect on the economy. We have to do it and we have nothing to lose now." The resolve of landowners was hardened by the news of Mr Botha's murder near Beatrice, 50 miles south of Harare. His television was stolen. Few white farmers believe that the killing can be separated from the current crisis. A neighbour said: "Thanks to the land invasions, there is no law and order and we are all considered fair game."

From The Star (SA), 25 July

Zimbabwe's wary farmers decide to soldier on

Harare - Zimbabwean farmers have decided not to shut down operations in protest against police inaction in the face of growing lawlessness on land occupied by war veterans, said farming officials on Monday. David Hasluck, director of the white-led CF, had said at the weekend that widespread shutdowns were possible in the absence of action to resettle hundreds of landless black people occupying white farms. On Monday, CFU president Tim Henwood said a few farmers in some areas had been forced to shut down because it was not possible to operate, but the majority were operating and would continue to monitor the security situation.

Nine days ago, the government launched a programme to redistribute land to black peasants, saying war veterans would be moved to newly designated farms. However, their leader, Chenjerai "Hitler" Hunzvi, said his supporters would not leave the farms they are occupying. A CFU spokesperson said a temporary work stoppage in parts of the volatile Mashonaland central province ended last week and farmers resumed work on Monday. "They will continue to monitor the situation, but each area will make their own decision. Where there are untenable situations, there may be farmers who will cease operations until the police are reacting," said the spokesperson.

Farmers in Glendale, Mazowe, Shamva and Concession districts, north-east of the capital, stopped work for up to two days last week. On Saturday, a farmer in northern Karoi said police looked on as war veterans occupying a white-owned farm beat four workers in an incident his wife termed as police-sanctioned brutality". The workers were helping remove snares the occupying veterans had placed in the farm's game ranch to trap wild animals. Some farmers have been told only to reap the current harvest, but not to prepare the land for new crops. A farmer in Bindura, north of Harare, said by telephone that police had been supportive and helped farmers to return home after they had fled, fearing attacks by war veterans. <BR<BR"The police from Bindura and Shamva have been excellent but they are limited, they still haven't got clear directives to move these people off," he said in a telephone interview.

From The Daily News, 24 July

Unpopular army, police operations to end today

THE unpopular police and army operation, aimed at frightening Harare residents from celebrating an opposition party's victory in last month's parliamentary election, is expected to end today. The move left a trail of injuries as soldiers and police imposed an unofficial and illegal curfew, which they implemented randomly in most high-density suburbs in Harare, Chitungwiza, Kwekwe, Kariba and other towns where Zanu PF lost heavily to the MDC. Soldiers on patrol yesterday said they were supposed to have gone back to their barracks by last week, but were told to wait in anticipation of an MDC demonstration expected soon after the Fifth Parliament was opened. Hundreds of troops in armoured vehicles and paramilitary officers beat up residents at liquor stores and shopping centres, in night-clubs and on the streets for unexplained reasons. Many people sustained broken limbs, bruises and others lost their teeth. Residents said they suspected the operation was "an act of political retribution" after Zanu PF's loss of urban seats in the election.

Despite overwhelming evidence of police and army brutality during the operation, police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena maintained that no one has been assaulted or harassed. The MDC yesterday said it had so far recorded 10 complaints from its supporters. The reports were made to various police stations. MDC supporters were either assaulted, kidnapped or robbed. Bvudzijena said people were free to walk around any time and should report any beating to the police for investigation. Since they were acting on behalf of the police, the soldiers were guided by the Police Act, said Bvudzijena. Yesterday he said he was not aware of moves to end the operation. Vastina Gunde of Mabvuku, Lloyd Chikede of Tafara, Antony Chikanda of Hatfield, Due Mugota of Mufakose, Leonard Maodzwa of Dzivarasekwa, R Tarasanga, J Maipe and T Chanakira of Mbare and Shyness Tagarira of Murehwa were among the people allegedly assaulted by the police and the army.

From Business Day (SA), 25 July

Tsvangirai to seek IMF assistance

MORGAN Tsvangirai, the leader of Zimbabwe's opposition MDC, said last night he would ask the IMF and other donor agencies next week to reactivate their suspended economic assistance programmes in his country. He said his party would also call for an early presidential election if it succeeded in its court challenge to the validity of at least 30 parliamentary seats. The court has already ordered a recount in at least one constituency. If the challenge succeeded, a constitutional crisis would result as a president of the minority party would have appointed the government. "It would then be vitally important to bring the 2002 presidential elections forward. Alternatively, we would have to negotiate a coalition government for the two years until the presidential election."

The MDC would not use Zimbabwe's economic plight as a political weapon against the ruling Zanu (PF). "We are all faced with the same problem an economy in meltdown and we have to tackle it in a spirit of unity," he said. A team from the IMF, which suspended balance of payment support, is due in Zimbabwe early next month. Tsvangirai would insist on participating in talks with the IMF. Zimbabwe needed "as much economic breathing space as possible", and this could be achieved most effectively in the short term by foreign loan and donor aid, he said. If it was true, as reported (though the report has since been denied), that Mugabe was planning to resign soon, it would be "most welcome" news. "The man is a national liability. Clearly the pressure is mounting for him to go, from inside and outside Zanu (PF)."

From The Mail & Guardian (SA), 24 July

No successor in sight for 'tired' Mugabe

Harare - SHARP divisions have emerged within the upper echelons of Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party over the choice of a possible successor for President Robert Mugabe to face the challenge of charismatic opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai for the presidency in 2002. Mugabe, who was clearly shaken by his party's narrow win in last month's elections - especially Zanu-PF's crushing defeats in Harare and Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo - is ready to stand down when his term of office expires in 2002 and will allow a group of "kingmakers" to groom a successor, according to state-owned news agency ZIANA.

However, while younger members of the party elite favour new Finance and Economic Development Minister Simba Makoni to stand for the presidency, older members are said to prefer to follow party hierarchy and propose party chairman John Nkomo or party finance secretary Emmerson Mnangagwa. Citing "well-placed Zanu-PF sources", ZIANA said the secretive group was formed soon after the parliamentary polls in which Zanu-PF won just five seats more than the new opposition MDC. With more than one-third of the seats in the 150-member assembly, the MDC has become Zimbabwe's first viable opposition in 20 years of independence.

The 76-year-old president, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, "was undoubtedly shaken at the opening of parliament" last Thursday, giving an uncharacteristically brief speech before the chamber, now more than one-third full of opposition MPs. "He was not himself," said an opposition MP. It was "almost certain" that if Mugabe stood again he would lose, he said, adding however that the question of a successor may become moot if the MDC succeeds in bringing about constitutional change so that Zimbabwe's executive presidency is abolished in favour of an executive prime minister.

Analysts say this could be a "nice exit option" for Mugabe, who could say he presided over the constitutional change. Brian Kagoro, spokesman of the National Constitutional Assembly, said the search for a successor was based on the "misplaced" assumption that "what makes the MDC popular is the charisma of (leader) Morgan Tsvangirai." The next elections "won't be contested on personalities," he said, adding: "Unless there's a real paradigm shift in Zanu-PF, the party is likely to be trounced."

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