(14 Apr 2000) English/Nat
Three black labourers were attacked, one seriously, by war veterans in Zimbabwe on Thursday - as the row over land ownership intensified.
The labourers were attacked by war veterans who were furious that they tried to protect white farmer's property.
A new wave of invasions on white-owned farms has begun in Zimbabwe, despite a High Court ruling on Thursday compelling police to evict the squatters.
This black labourer is being treated in hospital for injuries caused by war veterans who attacked him while he was working on a farm in Arcturus, east of Harare.
The man was working for a white farmer and this angered the veterans who believe he should join forces with them in reclaiming land from white Zimbabweans.
Peter Clark, a neighbouring farmer, was looking out for the labourers.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have four fairly serious injuries, one in particular, he was injured when he fell off a vehicle rather than being injured by the war vets. The other three were severely assaulted by the war vets."
SUPER CAPTION: Peter Clark, neighbouring farmer
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"They should stop what they are doing. They are hurting us. They should rather come and fight the farm owners."
SUPER CAPTION: Paul Gatsi, wounded farm labourer
Despite Thursdays court ruling allowing police to evict black squatters on farms, thousands moved onto a large farm next to Harare's airport.
They were encouraged by a promise from war veterans that the farm would be divided, and every squatter would get a piece of the land.
War veterans waved weapons and danced, and thousands of squatters joined them in passionate political chants.
They wore T-shirts supporting the government but ignored the government's call to leave the farms they have occupied.
Despite President Robert Mugabe's highly vocal support for the squatters, the Zimbabwe government on Thursday urged thousands of black squatters to abandon white-owned farms.
The appeal came from Vice President Joseph Msika, who said the government wanted to amicably end the tense stalemate on an estimated 9-hundred (900) farms across the country.
In making his ruling, High Court Judge Moses Chinhengo rejected government arguments that police action against the armed squatters could trigger a civil war.
He said 'the rule of law has to be upheld'.
The judge also ordered Mugabe's government to obey an earlier court order.
But neither the court ruling, nor the government appeal had any effect on the 2-thousand squatters making themselves at home here.
And while there was no direct violence against the white farmers, once again, the police did nothing to stop the occupation.
SOUNDBITE: (Shona)
"There will be no elections if we don't get land. If the MDC wins, we will go back to war."
('MDC' stands for 'The Movement for Democratic Change' - the main opposition party challenging Mugabe's ruling party.)
SUPER CAPTION: War Veteran
The government can still appeal Thursday's ruling to the Supreme Court, delaying for a time a constitutional showdown between the country's executive and judicial branches.
Mugabe's overwhelming majority in the parliament, where he controls 147 of the 150 seats, has meant he has the power to defy the judiciary without threat of impeachment.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
