/ 22 November 2000

ZIM FARMERS CHALLENGE SQUATTER ORDER

ZIMBABWE’S Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) is to appeal against a High Court provisional order allowing squatters to stay on white farms they have invaded since February. High Court judge Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku ruled that war veterans and supporters of President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party could remain on the farms pending a Supreme Court ruling expected next month on the constitutionality of Mugabe’s land seizure programme. Ten days ago, the Supreme Court ordered the government to stop its illegal land-grab and to evict the squatters. – Reuters

21