Militants Invade White Farms In Zimbabwe
Related: Zimbabweans Prepare To Be Stuck With Mugabe
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - White farmers in Zimbabwe say militants loyal to President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party have forced three cattle ranchers off their land.
A fourth is holding out with about 50 militants threatening to break down his farm gates.
The land grabs, revealed Sunday, come as Mugabe and his party confront massive elections losses and an expected presidential runoff.
Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since his guerrilla army helped overthrow white minority rule in 1980.
His popularity has been battered by an economic collapse following the often-violent seizures of white-owned commercial farms since 2000.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP)—President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party demanded a vote recount and a further delay in the release of presidential election results, the state Sunday Mail newspaper reported, prompting outrage from the opposition party.
The Movement for Democratic Change, which claims its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the March 29 presidential ballot outright, said it would not accept a recount, did not want a runoff and pressed ahead with legal attempts to force publication of the results.
“How do you have a vote recount for a result that has not been announced? That is ridiculous,” said opposition spokesman Nelson Chamisa.
He accused the ruling ZANU-PF party of vote fraud, saying that police have told opposition leaders that the ruling party has been tampering with ballots since early last week.
“These claims are totally unfounded and they are only meant to justify ZANU-PF’s rigging,” he said.
The ruling party cited “errors and miscalculations in the compilation of the poll result” and asked the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to defer announcement of the presidential election results because of the “anomalies,” the Sunday Mail reported.
The report came a day after Tsvangirai called on Mugabe to step down and accused the 84-year-old longtime ruler of plotting a campaign of violence to bolster his chances of winning an expected runoff.
Eight days after the election, the commission has yet to announce the results. Unofficial tallies by independent monitors show Tsvangirai won more votes than Mugabe—but fewer than the 50 percent plus one vote required to avoid a runoff.
The high court heard testimony Sunday afternoon from opposition party lawyers who lodged an urgent petition demanding publication of the election results. Reporters were not admitted to the court hearing. Armed police prevented opposition lawyers from entering the court on Saturday but there was no police presence Sunday.
The Movement for Democratic Change maintained its resistance to a runoff.
“We are not going to accept the so-called runoff. It is going to be a ‘run-over’ of Zimbabwe. People are going to be killed,” Chamisa said. “We are not so naive a leadership to lead our people to slaughter.”
Tsvangirai on Saturday stopped short of saying the party would boycott any runoff. But he voiced concerns that the state would mobilize the armed forces, feared youth brigades and war veterans to terrorize voters into supporting Mugabe.
Mugabe has been accused of winning previous elections through violence and intimidation. Scores of opponents were killed during the 2002 and 2005 campaigns.
Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga dismissed fears of violence as “a lot of nonsense.”
The law requires a runoff within 21 days of the initial election, but diplomats in Harare and at the United Nations say Mugabe may order a 90-day delay to give security forces time to clamp down.
Mugabe has ruled here since his guerrilla army helped overthrow white minority rule in 1980. His popularity has been battered by an economic collapse following the often-violent seizures of white-owned commercial farms since 2000. A third of the population has fled the country and 80 percent are jobless. Inflation is raging at more than 100,000 percent.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
“Aides Study Mugabe’s Options as Police Detain Foreigners”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/03/AR2008040301283.html?hpid=moreheadlines
“Mugabe’s party demands Zimbabwe recount”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080406/ap_on_re_af/zimbabwe_elections;_ylt=AqL_n9ug84rrt1mYoqnwtGWs0NUE
April 6th, 2008 at 10:02 amThe natives are getting restless.
April 6th, 2008 at 10:47 amLooks like Zimbabwe will be hungry for decades to come.
April 6th, 2008 at 12:30 pm80% unemployment, 100,000% inflation and a third of the “productive” people have left the nation.
Mugabe; the Hitler of the central African area.
From one of the richest countries in Africa to starvation. What is really sad, is that you can look at Venezuela, and they are going down the exact same road. Why do people want to whip that old, dead, socialist horse.
April 6th, 2008 at 2:20 pmI nearly moved to your country 35 years ago after reading about what a beautiful place it was to live in. Thank God my husband refused. I sure don’t want to live with inflation at 100,000, 1/3 of the productive population leaving and a population with 80% jobless. It’s nice to feel safe in your own home!!!
April 6th, 2008 at 2:46 pmI have a few businesses in South Africa. I got 6 Zimbabweans working for me. I wonder what will happen when South Africa goes the same way. Where will the 32milion illegal immigrants living here go.
April 6th, 2008 at 4:23 pmto old chief.
April 6th, 2008 at 4:26 pmThe richest country in Africa is South Africa, not Zimbabwe. The only problem with South Africa is it is moving back to the dark side of Africa. Every day the power cuts are cutting into the countries wealth
to marc
April 6th, 2008 at 4:30 pmthere is a new hitler for Africa on his way, he will take over next year it is predicted. He got more power that Mogabe, more money, more military, and more people. Jakob Zuma is his name. Watch out. He will make Mogabe look like a baby.
Hearing about what is happening in Zimbabwe is saddening. Although we are hearing about these stories now, it has been going on for awhile. My father is from (Rhodesia) Zimbabwe, and my aunt (his sister) had been kicked off of there farm a little under a year ago. They basically told her to get what she wanted and go. It angers me that they do this. Its not right at all. Growing up my father would tell me how beautiful the animals and land were. He would also say how disappointed he is that the government isn’t doing what they should to improve the conditions of living there. They waited to long to even attempt to better things, now there is much more to correct. Africa is a very beautiful country, its sad to be focusing on the “ugly” side, and having its once “good” reputation disappear. My prayers to those who are going through hard times over there.
April 6th, 2008 at 10:43 pmGot some close family friends over there that are white. they’ve been living there in a farm house that their Father built with his own hands. now… becuase they are white, they will be pushed off their land, and the country’s inflation will go up (as if it isnt high enough (its like 1,000,000 zimbabwe dollars to 10 US cents or somthing like that ratio)).
Its all Tribal bullshit over there.
April 6th, 2008 at 11:21 pm