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Zimbabwe labor movement calls for general strike Reuters - Jul 28 2000 2:59PM ET

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main labor movement Friday called for a general strike to pressure President Robert Mugabe to end violence against opposition supporters and the occupation of white-owned farms.

Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party condemned the strike call but said the war veterans leading farm invasions were acting on their own accord and had defied orders to move to allow orderly land redistribution.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), which enjoys the support of most of the country's 1.2 million laborers, said a nationwide strike would begin Wednesday.

``We cannot tolerate a situation where the opposition or the general public is subjected to violence for any reason and where lawlessness is allowed to prevail on the farms under the guise of land reform,'' ZCTU Acting Secretary-General Nicholas Mudzengerere told Reuters.

``If these (issues) are addressed, we will call off the strike,'' he said after an emergency meeting of the ZCTU council. The umbrella group represents trade unions in agriculture, manufacturing, mining and the public sector.

ZANU-PF condemned the strike call, saying unions were being used by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), white farmers and industrialists opposed to land redistribution.

Party spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira told the ZIANA official news agency that the party expected war veterans leader Chenjerai Hunzvi to get his members out of occupied farms to allow the government to pursue orderly resettlement.

``Hunzvi should now crack down on elements not obeying instructions,'' he said.

``We expect him to lead his members out of the farms to new settlements. We really emphasize that because the next two to three weeks are very crucial in our quest for economic stability,'' he said.

The government has so far refused to use police, saying ``the land issue is a political issue requiring a political solution.''

The planned strike is the first major challenge to Mugabe since his ZANU-PF party narrowly won fiercely-contested parliamentary elections last month.

The MDC captured 57 seats against 62 for ZANU-PF and one seat to a minor opposition party.

At least 31 people died in pre-election violence linked to the invasions which began in February of hundreds of white-owned farms by black pro-government militants and self-styled veterans of the country's 1970s liberation war against white rule.

Mugabe's government has denied responsibility for the violence and vowed to press ahead with plans to take over some 800 white-owned farms for black resettlement.

Mudzengerere urged other groups to coordinate their protests with the ZCTU action.

WHITE FARMERS MIGHT STOP WORK

Zimbabwe's white farmers' union has warned that threats and land invasions might force members to halt farming nationwide next week.

Harare newspapers reported Friday that the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) was planning a work stoppage by its 4,500 members Monday. Union officials were not available to confirm the reports.

The CFU has said intimidation and interference on the farms has escalated despite the government's announcement of plans for the orderly transfer of land from whites to blacks.

It said Friday that farm laborers were still being assaulted.

White farmers in the Karoi district, 130 miles northwest of Harare, continued to stay away from their properties after halting work Tuesday in protest against the beating unconscious of a local farmer by war veterans.

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 faces acute shortages of fuel and foreign exchange.

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Zimbabwe Labor Union Backs Strike Over Lawlessness, AFP Says
Bloomberg News - Jul 28 2000 10:20AM

Harare, Zimbabwe, July 28 (Bloomberg) -- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions said it will back a general strike next week in protest at lawlessness on white-owned farms, though it stopped short of formally calling a stoppage, Agence France-Presse said, citing the Congress's president Isaac Matongo. The action will last for three days, starting Wednesday. If the government does not respond, the union will meet on Saturday to review its position, Matongo added.

The government of President Robert Mugabe, which was returned to power in a closely fought election last month, has largely turned a blind eye to violence against government opponents and seizures of more than 1,650 white-owned farms.
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Zimbabwe's Opposition Asks for 37 By-Elections, Daily News Says
Bloomberg News - Jul 27 2000 9:36AM

Harare, Zimbabwe, July 27 (Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwe's biggest opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, asked the courts to overturn the results in 37 of the 62 constituencies won by the ruling Zanu PF party in last month's elections because of pre-poll violence and procedural irregularities, reported The Daily News newspaper, citing Learnmore Jongwe, the MDC's information and publicity secretary. The MDC, which won 57 seats in the election, needs another 19 seats to give it a majority in the parliament, where 120 seats are elected and 30 appointed by the president. A Zanu PF candidate has also applied to the courts to have a by-election held in a constituency won by the MDC.

A group of European Union observers said the elections were not free and fair because of political violence, caused mainly by Zanu supporters, in the run-up to the elections and irregularities in the voting process.

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COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION - FARM INVASIONS UPDATE: FRIDAY 28 JULY 2000

With regard to the stayaway next week, CFU leaders are still in a national meeting of business leaders at the time of writing. We will advise you as soon as the results of that meeting are known.

REGIONAL REPORTS

MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Centenary - The work stoppage in the northern region is now under control. The eastern region is still experiencing difficulties. The war vets claim they have received a letter from Mt Darwin, stating that permission has been granted them to bring their cattle on to Montana Farm. They are selling plots for $250/plot. War vets have began to build permanent homes on Rivera Farm at a rapid rate. The owner of Everton Farm was informed that more cattle would be moved on to his property. The owner of Ashford Farm has received two death threats by phone today.
Victory Block - Approximately twenty youths from Chiwe Resettlement have been pegging since Thursday on Matenda Mambo, in apparent retaliation for the stand-off with farmers earlier in the week. There are no war vets on the farm, but fifteen youths were at the farm store this morning.
Mvurwi - War vets demanded transport from the owner of Pembi Falls, which was denied. They then attempted to cause a work stoppage, which was later resolved by the police. 12 war vets continue to peg on Msonneddi Farm. Approximately 40 are continuing to peg on Bradjulie. This is being organised by a Agritex officer. Police visited the farm and identified labour from neighbouring farms who were participating in the pegging.
Tsatsi - Approximately 10 war vets and supporters have continued to harass the owner of Dorking Farm. War vets have made threats of violence to both owner and management. A written demand for food was given to owner Horwick Farm. It was denied. The war vets are believed to have come from Cranham Farm.
Glendale - Approximately 60 have occupied Chirobi. Pegging continues on Heyshott Farm.
Mutepatepa - War vets were seen regrouping after police spoke to them on Condwelani . There has been a partial work stoppage of next season's crops. All 80 War vets which had invaded Rossetta Rust Farm yesterday have moved off. War vets have also moved off Argyle Park. Invaders from Insingizi are not residing on the farm, but apparently come from Chipadze Township daily. There has been much activity on Dimitra farm but no work interferences.
Mazowe/Concession - The owner of Spa has been told to move his cattle by Saturday. Pegging continues on Bera and Landscape Farms.
War vets have moved off Makalanga Farm and Umsasa.
Harare West/Nyabira - Correction to sitrep of 26 July: Espes Park should be Estes Park. Approximately 100 war vets passed through Oldbury Farm and Komani Estate. One group was seen in a police vehicle.

MASHONALAND EAST
Marondera North - There are now 40-50 occupiers on Oxford. War vets on Dormavale, Argosy and Chapungu were asked to move off and onto Oxford (which conceded). A calf was snared on Somerset last night. War vets held a pungwe near the house on Rupture.
Marondera South - Bali Hai: On Lot 15 of Wenimbe, occupiers are living in the barns and have built 6 more structures. Tree cutting is ongoing. War vet Masimbi informed the owner of Uitkyk that he is returning on Sunday with 200 people. They will take whichever land they desire. Masimbi demanded food and transport, which were refused. There was a work stoppage on Igava this morning.
The owner of Sussex received a letter from a Comrade Moyo on behalf of war vets Ndumo and Mazorodze requiring him to surrender part of the farm as it falls "between the boundary of the reserves or communal areas". The owner of Gresham has received an anonymous letter, claiming to have knowledge of a plot by the owner's present manager to kill him.
Beatrice - The owner of Allandale told occupiers to move off by Saturday. Permanent structures are being built with gum poles on Sanctuary. Some of the gum poles are being moved off the farm in scotch carts. Numbers of war vets are escalating and there is increased activity and building.
Harare South - On Stoneridge a tractor was taken by war vet Douglas Mahiya on Tuesday morning and has not been recovered. Attempts to resolve this matter through the Hatfield police have failed.
Wedza - Yesterday the workers on Shaka went to work on the seed beds against Chigwadere's order not to work. Chigwadere and 50 followers stormed into the seed bed site and ripped up the hoses and drums. They then went to the grading shed to stop the work there and the workers faced them and told them they were not willing to co-operate. Chigwadere and 2 others pulled 303 rifles out and pointed them at the workers, threatening to shoot them if they continued to work on the seed beds. Support Unit and the Member in Charge reacted and arrested Chigwadere and one of his followers. They were taken to Dispol in Marondera and the Member in Charge of Wedza brought them back a short while later. The Member in Charge informed the farmer that he had been instructed to organise a docket for Chigwadere. At 0400 today the occupiers started to burn the grass fence around the seed beds. The Wedza Security Team reacted at about 0415 and extinguished the fires. The MIC told the farmer that he was not willing to help until daylight. At 1030 this morning the police had still not arrived at the scene.
The owner of Chard has received a letter from war vet Machiki, saying that he is coming to peg the farm over the weekend. There is an increase in numbers on Linton. 200 gum trees have been cut down on Markwe. The drivers of Chakadenga were told not to work as the farm now belongs to war vets. Chigwadere was at Fair Adventure demanding transport. A number of the farmers in a meeting at a nearby farm went to see what was happening, and Chigwadere left, intimidated, after telling the farmers that all the farms in Wedza would be taken over. A new group occupied Rapako and were cutting trees and building. They have now left the farm. Much building is going on at Iamba, and the owner of Walton is being hassled by occupiers.
Enterprise/Bromley/Ruwa - There is interferance with activity on Neptune, Lerick and Bally Vaughan. The owner of Dunstan was threatened with being shot in front of his labour. The war vet concerned, described as the Harare Province leader, said that the farm would be reallocated as follows: A third to war vets, a third to CIO, and the remainder to the owner, provided he pay a substantial sum. Due to an increasingly threatening situation the farm has been evacuated by the farmer and manager, and tractors and equipment are being moved off. The man making the threats is Mugwagwa, who has also caused the evacuation of neighbouring Alberly and Xanadu.
Featherstone - There is a regular presence of up to 200 people, snaring and poaching, on Charter Estate. The owner intents to relocate much of his game. There is an increase in building on Hazeldene, Hockies and Highlands. There are 20-30 people constructing on Wemel and carting wood away in scotch carts.
Christiana and At Last have been advised by Godfrey Muradzikwa and Cleophas Deka to learn to live with war veteran neighbours.The owner of Kuruman A has been told to stop land prep. There are 10 occupiers building on Calais, and 15 on Knockholl Annex. There are 10 occupiers on Knockhot, who are snaring, poaching and pegging. Mabhunu and others in a white Mazda have advised the residents of Phillipsdale that they will be taking over the farm. There are 2 residents around the homestead at Perseverance. Lemoenfontein has about 5 occupiers with their cattle and chickens. On Sable Flays there are about 100 occupiers resident, and up to 400 on a daily basis. 17 km of fencing has been stolen and poaching and snaring are on the upsurge. 7-8 km of fencing has been stolen from Rhodesdale A and F. There are about 10 occupiers on Ricefonteing, 20 on El Minie, 30 on Loudia. Gelukverwacht, Wildebeestlager and Longhope have been occupied. There is massive stumpring and building on Palestine, and cattle have been snared.

MASHONALAND WEST NORTH
Karoi - The Farmers' Association Chairman reports that occupiers are moving off the farms, and that the police reaction has improved.
Chinhoyi - Chengu Farm reports Musakasa and five others driving around in a landrover, enquiring about farm size etc.
Tengwe - Only grading is allowed on Kapena. No land prep is permitted on Parendale and Alpha and Glen Craig. Grading and seedbed preparation continue on Medbury. Cattle have been driven of Dendanyani, Jambo and Silver Lining. On Dendaynani, Jambo and Solera, land prep and pre-irrigation have been stopped and grading and seedbeds continue. There is no change on Welgin, Murambi, Beltane, Paradys, Utopia, Beaugeste. The owner of Mpata has been told that no tobacco can be planted. The threatened eviction on Inanda has been temporarily resolved. There is still illegal brick-making on Gwiwa, Inanda, Driftwood, Kukura, Glendene, Ian Penny, and now on Pollux. The labour on Woodlands Farm reacted negatively to the work stoppage by farmers on Wednesday, but the situation was resolved.

MASHONALAND WEST SOUTH
Norton - On one farm four vehicles were busy ferrying in a further 40 people yesterday. Land prep and seed bed planting is still not being allowed despite representation to the Governor, Propol and Dispol.
Selous - Police response was very poor yesterday. It does appear that three people have been arrested on Wicklow today for tree cutting.
Chegutu - Previously unreported on Tophin Farm: On 15 July a war veteran was caught stealing maize and cutting trees. The owner took him to the police. As a result of this action the war veteran assualted the owner whilst he was opening a gate and tried to stab him. The owner managed to shake him off. The same man subsequently went to the house of the night guard who had caught him stealing maize. A young boy saw him entering the hut in which the night guard was asleep and grabbed the knife off him before the night guard was hurt. He has been warned by the police. On Ranwick Farm poachers' gunshots were heard last night, and previously unreported, there have been six goats slaughtered. On Stewartonia huts are being built in the middle of lands and donkeys have been brought in. Suri Suri - On San Fernando war veterans today started ploughing with oxen. The oxen do not have movement permits and are jeopardizing the beef industry. Veterinary inspectors say that they may go out there next week. Police have still not arrived.
Chakari - On Blackmorvale police have still not arrived to investigate wood being taken off the property by war vets. The owners of Montana have had to move off again as their workers have told them that the war vets on the farm are armed. Kadoma - On Molina/Berkley Chase a Chinese tractor which continues to run down fences. Gates continue to be left open and there is extensive maize theft. War Vets are demanding that cattle are moved off. The owner is the biggest beef exporter in the country and he is unable to account for all of his cattle.

MASVINGO
Save Conservancy - On Mukwasi Ranch, 2 head of cattle and a kudu have been snared. 140 t of sugar, valued at $300 000 has been stolen from Levanga Ranch. It was carted away on donkeys and in scotch carts. There are 400-500 occupiers on the eastern side of the ranch. Large numbers are pegging in the middle of Mapari, and there is still a large presence on Angus/Mukasi Ranches. Alfred Moyo is reported to be out of jail and to be returning to Sango Ranch.
Chiredzi - There are 150 occupiers on Samba Ranch, 200 on Bangala, 30 on Palm River Ranch, 73 on Dawlish, 20 on Oscro and 15 on Wasara. The owner of Ruware was told by 7 commandos that they wanted a third of the property adjoining the Chipiwa Cane side. Along the canal on this property there are camps with a night time presence which is joined by more during the day.
In the past two days on Buffalo Range there has been an increase in numbers, more activity, more pegging, tree cutting and new signs erected.
Gutu/Chatsworth - Tree cutting continues in this area. A man in a truck visited Lorn Farm yesterday and told the owner he was looking at the land to see what was suitable for ploughing.
Mwenezi - There is an increase in poaching, especially with dogs, on Quagga Pan B.
Masvingo East and Central - There is continued pegging and hut building in the irrigation lands on Yettom and Marah.

MANICALAND
A green mercedes has visited 5-6 farms in Manicaland and has selected about 5 youths from the farm village on each for "training". More details are unknown at this stage.

MATABELELAND
No report.

MIDLANDS
Shurugwi - On Safago Farm a pedigree heifer worth $26 000 was found slaughtered and the meat taken.
60-70 war vets have moved onto Worchestershire Farm in addition to the original 10 and are cutting trees and building shelters.
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Displaced Still out on a Limb

Johannesburg (UN Integrated Regional Information Network, July 26, 2000) - More than 5,000 people from three districts in Zimbabwe's Mashonaland Central Province displaced in violence in the run-up to the June elections have not returned to their homes because of continuing intimidation against opposition supporters, human rights activists told IRIN.

Pesanai Mazambani of ZimRights said many of the displaced are from the Uzumba, Maramba and Pungwe villages in Murewa, some 40 km east of the capital Harare. "The bulk of the displaced villagers could not vote in the parliamentary elections following their flight from intimidation by supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF," Mazambani said.

He said ZimRights estimates that 500 homesteads were destroyed by gangs linked to ZANU-PF in pre-election violence. According to him, hundreds of cotton bales and maize cobs were also lost. "What is worrying is that in rural areas where violence has been strongest, no arrests have been made against the perpetrators of the intimidation," said Mazambani.

Mazambani said ZimRights is trying to assist the displaced to go back to their homes. "The difficulty, however, is that post-election violence in the three districts is still going on." He said despite the fact that ZANU-PF won the Mashonaland East constituency, ZimRights suspected that ZANU-PF militants are on a campaign of retribution against opposition supporters.

"The displaced are scared to go back to their homes as they fear for their lives," he said. He added that many of the displaced are accommodated in churches, while others live with relatives outside the districts.

ZANU-PF won 62 seats in the June parliamentary election, with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) taking 57 seats, becoming Zimbabwe's first viable opposition since independence in 1980. However, international election monitors said the polls were marred by ZANU-PF intimidation.

Mazambani stressed that it is continuing, and "the total disregard for the law is becoming widespread as intimidation increases and no action is being taken against the perpetrators."

This item is delivered by the UN's IRIN humanitarian information unit (e- mail: irin@ocha.unon.org; fax: +254 2 622129; Web: http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN), but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer.

Copyright 2000 UN Integrated Regional Information Network. Distributed via Africa News Online.

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Thanks

Dear All,
I have been receiving so many wonderful letters of support and kind words that I feel very emotional. It is wonderful to think that there are people who care and people who are willing to come forward to try and stop this madness and tyranny. I would like to thank you all in a personal e-mail, but for the moment this is a general very big thank you.

I have passed on all your messages to my parents and it makes them cry every time. Physically they are feeling better, but I am very worried about their emotional state. They still cannot go back and the entire farm has been pegged even though it is not a designated farm.
My parents feel like refugees in their own country. They got out with one outfit of clothes and are having to rely on the charity of others. a degrading and soul-destroying position to be in, but one that makes you feel very humble when you realise the goodness of people.

It still makes me so angry and upset so see my parent like this and to think of all the special places on my home being over run and destroyed.

I want to stop this  and I am amazed at the power I have at my disposal through e-mail. The pen really is mightier than the sword. So many people in Harare have no idea what is going on.
So many have come to me and say "How can we help"

Everyone can, by being vocal about what is happening.

Do not bury your head in the sand, don't be afraid to make a stand for what you believe to be right. I will be in touch.

Yours, through e-mail
Melanie Benzon (nee Coleman)
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