Zim police accused of 'coddling' farmers

Published Aug 12, 2001

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Harare - Three Zimbabwe police officers have been suspended for allegedly according special treament to 21 white farmers arrested last week on charges of public violence, a police spokesman said Sunday.

Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri suspended a superintendent, an inspector and an assistant inspector for providing new and extra prison clothing to the 21 white farmers "so they could feel comfortable".

"The three have been suspended because whatever they did was improper," assistant commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena told reporters.

"These officers went in the middle of the night to give them further items of clothing. This is very unprocedural," he said, asking: "Why should they (the white farmers) receive special treatment?"

Bvudzijena said the matter was still under investigation and the trio would appear before a disciplinary hearing.

The white farmers were arrested early last week after they clashed with black militants on one of their farms, and were remanded in custody on Friday by a magistrate's court to August 24.

Police said farmers attacked the invaders without provocation, but farming officials said the farmers were trying to a rescue a colleague who was barricaded into his home by the occupiers.

The clash on Monday sparked widespread violence outside Chinhoyi, 100km north-west of Harare, forcing about 60 farmers to flee their homes with their families.

Farmers have reported widespread looting on the farms, and said police have refused to take action.

The government has blamed the farmers for the unrest.

Meanwhile, Colin Cloete, president of the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) representing white farmers said Sunday that "marauding bands" were wreaking havoc on farms in and around the Chinhoyi farming region at the weekend and appealed for "swift action" to contain growing lawlessness.

"It is apparent that the state of lawlessness has reached a height that can only be contained by swift action at the highest level," Cloete said in a statement Sunday.

He said more farms "are being pillaged and looted openly and blatantly by lawless elements in marauding bands of up to 300 (but) little action has been taken to recover stolen property."

Cloete accused police of failing to bring under control the lawlessness under control.

"Farmers and their families are vulnerable and unprotected as police turn a blind eye to assaults that have taken place on their doorstep," he said.

"I make a heartfelt plea to the ministers and police chiefs who took oath of allegiance to protect all citizens of Zimbabwe, to swiftly and decisively avoid further destruction and loss of property," said Cloete.

He said theft and property damage so far has reached over Z$210-million (about R31,5-million). - Sapa-AFP

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