Recently on the 12 and 13 June respectively two commercial farmers were assaulted on their farms in the Macheke-Hwedza district. One was beaten by 15 attackers and hit over the head with a chain. The other, aged 64, had to be hospitalised after a group of war veterans occupying his farm attacked him and tied him up with wire after a dispute over his tractor.

Rural farmers have also been caught up in the violence. One farmer’s report corroborates the type of violence being meted out to those suspected of being opposition officials or supporters:

I have no position in the MDC. I suspect that I was targeted because one time when I chanced to get some t-shirts some time last year, when I came to Harare for a funeral at my in-laws. There were about 20, when I got home I gave them out to people because its something to wear. Last week I heard a rumour that I would lose my head, but I took it as a joke. Then I was visiting my relative in Marondera and it was when I got back this morning that I found out what had happened. My children are too scared to go to school.

When I went back this morning I found four of my rooms burning down to ashes. I am left with the clothes I am wearing. Everything else is gone. My children and wife have been victimised. I left them there. My wife has pains and bruises, she was not able to move around and is lying down. She has a cut on the head. Three of my children who are 18, 16 and 14 were beaten, the other three are okay but they are too scared to go to school. I discovered some sjamboks which they left behind there and a wooden block like those things used by a security guard. I am a strong peasant farmer, but they have burned my crops which were ready to harvest. People are threatening my life, claiming that I am a leader of an opposition party. My brother’s place has also been burnt. He was not there, but his wife and children and an in-law were there.

My wife and my cousin who was also there told me what happened. They came last night around 7.00 pm and they all flocked into the kitchen. They were armed with pickhandles and sjamboks. None of them took a seat. They inquired about my whereabouts. Seven of them came into the house, they were the leaders, but there were many more outside. One of them was recognised by my cousin. They are not from our village, it seems they are organising at Murehwa centre, they are provided with transport, food, t-shirts and the like.

During the interrogation of my wife, one of them said: "Don’t waste time in asking her. Why not give her a chop in the head and let her lie flat forever." They were thinking of killing her. They were asking for me. The children were all present and the cousin as well as my wife. They were beating my wife and cousin and my three elder children.

I went back home to see my wife. I found her sick. I reached home on Thursday, and went to the Murehwa police station on Friday. I wanted to report it so my wife could get a medical form for the hospital. After leaving the police station, I was approached by some guys at Murehwa centre. I was told that something should be done to me. They knew my identity and case which they got from the police. It seems the police are under their command. They said: "We don’t think you have had enough." I was able to go home, and was trying to organise my few things to come to Harare. But then a friend came and said I should not stay in my house that night. These people are making routines. They enclose the place and do whatever they want. We slept in the bush with my family. Then we made our way to Harare.

Another rural farmer gave this report from UMP: