Zimbabwe farm invasions stalling commercial agriculture, farm union says

HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) -- Zimbabwe's white farmers are being forced to stop work in the face of continued threats from self-styled war veterans who have invaded their farms, the Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) said Sunday.

But CFU president Tim Henwood denied a report in Sunday's independent Standard newspaper that the union's 4,500 members would close their farms in protest against the invasions.

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"No, we cannot confirm that report. But I can say that in some areas like Shamva, people have been prevented from working and are stopping work as a reaction to a security problem," he told Reuters.

Farmers in Shamva, 90 kilometers (55 miles) north of Harare, have been threatened by black militants who have occupied more than 1,000 farms countrywide since February with the backing of President Robert Mugabe. Last week the union said 60 farmers in the wheat-producing area of Glendale, 60 kilometers north of Harare, had stopped farming after one was forced off his property.

The CFU said militants still were threatening farm laborers and giving farmers ultimatums to relinquish their properties or face violence.

On Saturday, police stood by and watched as four laborers were beaten by veterans at a farm near the Zambezi valley, about 220 kilometers north of Harare, farm owner Jane O'Donoghue told Reuters.

Police had been called to investigate a wave of game poaching on Vuka Estates.

"They allowed the veterans to pick out four members of our labor force and beat them up," O'Donoghue said. "The situation between our laborers and the veterans is getting more tense."

The CFU said in a statement that some police were trying to be more responsive to land owners' complaints. But it said they were being pressured to side with the invaders, most of whom back Mugabe's ZANU-PF and its promises to seize more than 800 white-owned farms on prime land for black resettlement.

"Of concern is that certain police officials who are trying to do their work are coming under political pressure."

ZANU-PF narrowly defeated the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in an election last month that was marked by violence and intimidation. Some 31 people, mostly MDC supporters, died in the run-up to the poll.

The violence has battered Zimbabwe's economy, which is enduring its worst crisis since independence from Britain in 1980. There are severe shortages of fuel and foreign currency, and unemployment is at a record high.

In addition, Mugabe's resettlement plan has damaged the farming sector and discouraged donors from resuming aid.

Analysts have warned that growth in the sector, which accounts for 20 percent of Zimbabwe's gross domestic product and 40 percent of export earnings, could plunge 20 percent if the land crisis is not resolved soon.

A CFU survey showed that as of June 29, 1,525 farms -- 28 percent of all farms owned by its members -- had been invaded.

Mugabe is demanding that Britain foot the bill for farms the government plans to seize. Britain has offered to pay 36 million pounds ($54 million) towards land reform, but only if the invasions are halted.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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