The fatal shooting of Weeks
John Weeks, aged 65, a farmer in Beatrice, south of Harare, was shot and wounded in the chest by intruders on his farm on 11 May. He was taken to hospital where he subsequently died. According to an Associated Press report farm leaders linked this death to ruling party militants. David Hasluck, head of the Commercial Farmers Union, called the shooting Thursday of Weeks, 65, "definitely political." He said Weeks' attackers are tied to the militants who have occupied white-owned farms. Weeks also shot one of the five armed men who attacked him. His companions took the man away and his condition is unknown. But Guy Watson-Smith, another farmer in the area, said he was not aware of Weeks being involved in politics. "We believe it was a symptom of the breakdown of law and order," he said.

The farm has suffered due to the wave of unrest and invasions over the last month or so as has been the case countrywide. However the tempo has been raised as a result of recent actions on the farm carried out by militant youths that arrived on the farm in a lorry. There were already over 100 so-called ex-combatants resident on the farm but they did not appear to participate with the youths who claimed to be ZANU (PF) ex-combatants themselves.

Approximately 30 of these youths rounded up the farm workers over the weekend and then selected the four top foremen and the head woman. They were stripped, made to lie down in front of the whole workforce and severely whipped. The youths stated that these people were MDC sympathizers and that any person who was seen or heard to do anything to do with the opposition parties would receive the same treatment. A few other ordinary workers were also beaten up. The workers were told that if they did not vote for the ruling party they would they would be back to sort everyone out. In addition they were told that if anything was reported to the police then they would be back and this time they would "take out" the families of all the head workers.

The workers pleaded with the management not to inform the police. The entire labour force has been severely intimidated and is quite obviously terrified. Some of these youths are still living in the workers quarters, beating up and threatening individuals when they return from work.

The police force are all ZANU (PF) sympathizers and do nothing to help the situation.

The management was approached by both ZANU (PF) and MDC to have a meeting on the property at the school hall two weeks ago. The reply was a written one given to the District Administrator in which the farm’s impartiality was stated and in which it was stated that the farm welcomed any party who wished to hold a meeting on the property so long as it was peaceful, orderly and did not disrupt the farming operations. Management was immediately visited by a truck load of ZANU (PF) heavies who verbally threatened the senior managers, spat on one, and announced that should any opposition party visit the farm then they would return and burn the manager’s house down and "take out" the managers themselves.

The situation remains tense and there appears to be a general movement in the neighbouring commercial farming areas to intimidate the workers.

The workers have suffered injuries ranging from simple abrasions to fractures, concussion and burns. They said the police have become completely helpless in the tense circumstances.

"This intimidation will continue," said MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai. "We are aware of this burden and sacrifice. It will not deter our campaign. All over the world, when a people rise against oppression, the consequence is often violence. We shall pull through," he said.

Farm security co-ordinators said there was fresh violence directed mainly against black farm workers but there were no new reports of farm invasions or attacks on farmers or their properties during the night. Night after night the pattern is repeated around the country as Zanu PF, facing its greatest challenge since 1980, tries to ensure it remains in government after the elections. "The onus is firmly on the labourers now," said Hwedza farmer Mike Moran. "It is political violence. This is gross intimidation."

At least 15 farms in the area had received the Red Guard treatment, and more were likely to be targeted.