In addition, pro-government militias, propagandists and hired thugs have intensified their assaults of political opponents and waverers at all night rallies and liberation war-style kangaroo courts set up at invaded commercial farms, growth points and in remote villages. The new wave has cowed thousands into submission and forced some to flee to towns and cities for safety and security.

In its latest land invasions update, the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) said: Featherstone- There is intelligence gleaned at Rosarum Store near the Dunn's Farm that more farmers are targeted by a hit squad. Those involved have been informed and may evacuate for their safety. The report does not give further details on either the hit squad or the targeted farmers. But it is now known that owners of Portugal and Zanka Farms in the area were evacuated last week because of the threat. The invaders have already been to Nyambiri and Swallowfield Farms where they were checking for party cards among farm workers.

Save Conservancy. "It appears that out of discussions held with senior police officials in Chiredzi that on Masapas, Levanga and Senuko Ranches, says the report. There appears to be a separate militant group of war vets. They refuse to accept any instructions from the Governor, Dr Hunzvi or even the police for that matter. "As a result, war veterans were still occupying safari camps. Game Scouts are being given a hard time by the war veterans", says the report.

Villagers and teachers are arriving daily in Harare from rural Mashonaland, raising fears that new squatter camps might spring up soon on the fringes of the city. Already 53 villagers and their children are sleeping at Mbare Musika and at the main railway station after abandoning their homes in Mutoko, Mudzi, Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe. The CFU says there are reports of massive political violence in Maranda and Matibi 1 areas in Mwenezi. Hospitals and clinics are very busy. Three schools closed last week Wedza invaders started to building a house on the seed bed site on Rupaka Farm, while workers at Dean Farm were commandeered to a meeting at 10 pm last week and only returned to work at 7:30 the following morning. A beast was shot on Saltash on Tuesday and 17 cattle were slashed on Chakadenya Farm. Macheke/Virginia- "Workers at Chiringe Farm were assaulted on Tuesday night.

Excessive demands have been made on Nyagadzi but the situation was defused. The farmer on Glen Somerset was forced to sign over half of his farm. Through the Enterprise valley, says the CFU, demands for cattle, food, transport and interference with preparation for crops continues. Chinhoyi farmers were ordered to attend a rally on a nearby farm. The farmers were told to take their workers with them, and advised that a roll call would be taken at the rally.

In the villages, violence monitors have recorded eight cases of rape, 1 012 incidents of burns and attempted stranglings and 417 houses and properties have been destroyed. The monitors put the total number of violations to 5 078 as of last week.

The CFU said there were two new invasions on Rosalin and Verdun Farms in Harare South/Beatrice, Mafuti Farm in Ayshire, another unidentified farm in Gweru and Anthony Mitchell's Wayne Farm in Masvingo. Plans for wheat planting had to be abandoned at Kismet Farm in Doma, Kuti Estate and Hwanga Farm and in the entire Middle Save region. Land preparation for wheat, tobacco and tomatoes stopped last week in Banket, at Lions Den and parts of Chinhoyi. In Norton, a group of 150 Zanu PF supporters commandeered two tractors from Parklands Farm and threatened the owner. They went to plough on Kintyre and then proceeded to Aberdeen. The group then requisitioned diesel from Winson Farm and went on to Garvillin, said the CFU. There was building of huts on Rondor Farm in Chakari, pegging on New Begin and all workers on Blackmorevale Farm were told to get Zanu PF cards if they wanted land. Wicklow Farm in Selous has also fallen to 150 invaders. The owner of Hwanga and Bonya farms were ordered to remove their cattle before the end of May.

Unemployed youths, using the Zanu (PF) campaign card as a source of income, adventure and pleasure, are moving from door to door, village to village, herding hapless peasants to daily political meetings, villagers said. From Nharira, Sadza, Hwedza, Marondera, Musami, Murehwa, Mutoko through to Nyamapanda, village life has taken a dramatic turn the usual, serene rural scene has been transformed into a brouhaha of Zanu PF war song and dance aimed at infusing fear into the rural voter, once assumed to be loyal to President Mugabe for life.

Gundani said many schools now had insufficient teachers and reports of continued harassment reached his offices every day. "We have sent out education officers to negotiate with local politicians in affected areas. In some cases, there is nothing we can do but wait until the situation normalises so the teachers can go back to the schools," he said. Gundani said morale among teachers was very low. "Mnamba School in Murehwa was badly affected. Opening for the second term was delayed because teachers did not turn up. We had to negotiate with the local Zanu PF party leadership for things to normalise," he said. At the neighbouring Dombodzvuku primary and secondary schools, only a few teachers are conducting lessons. "On Thursday last week, only nine teachers turned up. At the moment only three-quarters of our teachers are present. The school has a total of 24 teachers," said one headmaster. At Chemhondoro School, secret service agents and war veterans held a meeting on Monday to diffuse the tense situation after teachers fled the harassment. In Mudzi, Mutoko and Murehwa, the situation looks like a repeat of the days of the liberation struggle. Those who fail to attend the meetings are harassed and accused of supporting opposition parties. Their houses are searched and, in some cases, property is stolen.