ZIMBABWE:REPORTS CONTINUE to emerge from Zimbabwe of seizures of land from white farmers by groups of so-called "war veterans" with the apparently tacit encouragement of the government.
The Irish Timesyesterday received the following e-mails from a friend of two such families of evictees, John and Joy Borland and Liz and Clive Thomas, in the Masvingo area. (The e-mails were sent on Saturday.)
"Dear Family and Friends,
Well never thought I would have to do this e-mail, do not know if it may be my last from our farm 'Chidza'.
At 3.30pm today a lorryload of so-called Mugabe 'war vets' arrived at our gate to take over our land, equipment and pedigree cattle.
This crazy action is occurring in a country where there is v little food being produced!
It is now 6pm and they have been singing their war songs at our gate for three hours, the atmosphere is violent and more and more of them have arrived.
We managed to get our daughter Alison and her young son 'Little John' into town and for now it is just John and myself, plus our dogs, remaining in the house on the farm.
They have said that our labour will not work tomorrow. They have demanded that John must kill them a sheep, which John has flatly refused to do, so no doubt they will simply kill one for themselves.
None of our paid labour will even attempt to come to work tomorrow either!
Graham Richards who lives south of us is also under siege at the same time as us, so this siege of the last remaining whites is an orchestrated plan.
The Goddards and Deidricks are in the same boat. They have already taken over Pa-Nyanda guest lodge, and Graham and his wife Callie are now in town.
Alison is at John's sister's in Masvingo town and her husband Carl is expected back from Bulawayo tonight.
Please pass this e-mail on to as many folk as you would like to, this illegal action must become 'known' throughout the world . . .
If you know of anyone in the media, please ensure that they become aware . . . We have to let the world know what is happening.
So for now please keep all of us in your prayers and we will send a follow-up tomorrow if we are able.
Our love to you all.
John and Joy from Chidza."
"Hi again,
I have spoken to my mum in Masvingo. She says that the war vets have told the family that there are to be two dead farmers in their province by Monday - one of them being my uncle John Borland. She also said that another white farmer in the Masvingo district, Anthony Perkins, had been stoned by war vets on Saturday. He is alive but she does not know the seriousness of his injuries. Please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks, Liz Thomas."