Harare - At least 300 people have fled white-owned farms in northern Zimbabwe as land invaders continued to loot properties in the province, said a farming official.
"As of 8.30am another three farms have been completely looted," said Jenni Williams, a representative for the Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU).
She said a total of 300 people had been evacuated from farms in Doma, 140km north of Harare, since Thursday last week.
Last week 21 white farmers were arrested when they clashed with black occupiers on a farm in Chinhoyi, 100km north-east of Harare, in the same province of Mashonaland West.
| The CFU on Sunday appealed for action to end the lawlessness |
The incident has sparked off retaliatory attacks on whites in towns and farming areas throughout the region.
The CFU estimates that theft and property damage has so far totalled over Z$210-million (about R31,5-million).
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Williams said three farmers from Lion's Den, 120km north-east of Harare, were "briefly detained" by police on Sunday evening while trying to recover stolen property.
She said looting was continuing on farms in Doma on Monday, but that the farmers' union was trying to work with police in curbing lawlessness.
The CFU on Sunday appealed for action to end the lawlessness in the countryside, accusing the police of turning a blind eye to rampant theft and assaults on farm workers.
But the state-owned Herald newspaper reported on Monday that five looters had been arrested in Mhangura, one of the province's hot spots, and property had been recovered.
"The arrest of those five is an indication that police are doing something about it," assistant Police Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena was quoted as saying.
In addition to the white farmers and their families, about 40 farm labourers from one of the affected farms had been evacuated to safe locations within the country.
The CFU said the white farmers and families who had fled unrest have relocated to other towns, but that none had left the country. - Sapa-AFP
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