Zimbabwean police have arrested a total of 277 white farmers since the start of a crackdown on those defying a deadline to leave their land to make way for new black farmers, police said on Saturday.
Police representative Wayne Bvudzijena said the latest figure dated from Friday afternoon. He could not say how many farmers were still in custody this weekend.
The government had ordered 2 900 white farmers to leave their homes by August 8, but about 60% of them ignored the demand.
Many of those arrested over the last 10 days have been released on bail, according to farmers’ groups.
This week the United States criticised President Robert Mugabe’s government, accusing it of a ”land grab” that it said was sure to exacerbate Zimbabwe’s current food crisis.
Aid agencies estimate that at least half the population will soon need food aid.
But Mugabe struck back at his critics, accusing the United States and other western critics of a racist campaign to undermine his country’s independence.
Meanwhile, The British Government on Saturday made it clear that the situation in Zimbabwe would not affect its commitment to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad).
In a statement, British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw responded to suggestions that Nepad should be put on hold as a result of the actions of the Mugabe regime.
Straw said: ”Not only would this hinder attempts to isolate Mugabe, but its cruel effect would be to punish the whole of Africa for the sins of one man and in doing so, it would push back the prospects for a continent which has suffered for too long from
hunger, mismanagement and disease.
”There can be no doubts about the brutal and incompetent nature of the Mugabe regime, which has all but destroyed the Zimbabwe economy and badly affected the economies of the rest of Southern Africa.”
He said there never was any question of the current regime in Zimbabwe benefiting from Nepad. ”But to suggest that Nepad’s programme for the whole of Africa should be put on hold as a result of the Mugabe regime is particularly ill-considered.” -Sapa-AFP