SUSAN NJANJI, Harare | Monday
ZIMBABWE’S white farmers on Sunday called for swift action to halt mounting lawlessness in the countryside, accusing ‘marauding bands’ of wreaking havoc following clashes between white farmers and resettled blacks.
Farming officials said looting and vandalism of property were ongoing in the troubled Doma farming region near Chinhoyi, 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Harare, where 21 white farmers were arrested early last week for assaulting black occupiers at one of the farms.
“The looting continues, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.” “More of the farms in Doma are being pillaged and looted openly and blatantly by lawless elements in marauding bands of up to 300,” said Colin Cloete, president of the Commercial Farmers Union, which represents some 4 500 white farmers.
“More of the farms in Doma are being pillaged and looted openly and blatantly by lawless elements in marauding bands of up to 300,” said Colin Cloete, president of the Commercial Farmers Union, which represents some 4 500 white farmers.
“Little action has been taken to recover stolen property,” he added.
One farmer speaking by telephone from the region said on Sunday: “The looting continues, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.”
“I hear bus-loads are going into Doma to continue the looting,” the farmer said.
“It is apparent that the state of lawlessness has reached a height that can only be contained by swift action at the highest level,” Cloete said in a statement Sunday. Accusing the police of failing to curb the lawlessness, Cloete appealed for an end to the unrest.
“Farmers and their families are vulnerable and unprotected as police turn a blind eye to assaults that have taken place on their doorstep,” he said.
“I make a heartfelt plea to the ministers and police chiefs who took oath of allegiance to protect all citizens of Zimbabwe, to swiftly and decisively avoid further destruction and loss of property,” said Cloete.
He said theft and property damage so far has totalled over 210-million Zimbabwe dollars ($3,8-million).
“The Chinhoyi farming community has been torn asunder by these events and confidence in authoritative channels of protection is completely non-existent,” said Cloete.
Meantime, three police officers have been suspended for allegedly according special treatment to 21 white farmers arrested last week on charges of public violence, a police representative said on Sunday.
A superintendent, an inspector and an assistant inspector were suspended last week for providing new and extra prison clothing to the 21 white farmers “so they could feel comfortable”.
“The three have been suspended because whatever they did was improper,” said assistant commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena.
“These officers went in the middle of the night to give them further items of clothing. This is very unprocedural,” he said, asking: “Why should they (the white farmers) receive special treatment?”
Bvudzijena said the matter was still under investigation and the trio would appear before a disciplinary hearing.
The white farmers were arrested early last week after they clashed with black occupiers on one of their farms, and were remanded in custody Friday by a magistrate’s court until August 24.
Police said farmers attacked the occupiers without provocation, but farming officials said the farmers were trying to rescue a colleague barricaded into his home by the occupiers.
The clash Monday sparked widespread violence outside Chinhoyi, forcing some 60 farmers to flee their homes with their families.
Farmers have reported widespread looting on the farms, and said police have refused to take action.
The government has blamed the farmers for the unrest. – AFP