A mob loyal to President Robert Mugabe went on what was described as an "orchestrated" rampage in Zimbabwe yesterday, beating whites at random and injuring at least 10.
Earlier a farmer died after a brutal attack in his home, while 23 others were arrested after a separate clash in Zimbabwe's countryside.
Mr Ralph Fenwick Corbett (76) died late on Monday, making him the seventh white farmer killed since pro-government militants began forcibly occupying white farms 18 months ago.
Mr Corbett's attackers broke into his home late on Friday, tied his hands with wire, and then hit him on the head with an axe, the Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) said.
The CFU spokesman, Mr Malcolm Vowles, said it was unclear if occupiers on Mr Corbett's farm had committed the attack. But he said the attack was "certainly linked to the prevailing lawlessness and to the fact that at this time, it would be seen that there would be no consequence to committing a crime against a white person."
In northern Zimbabwe, police said 23 white farmers were arrested near the town of Chinhoyi after violent clashes with militants occupying their land.
A police spokesman said they stand accused of assaulting five people who had occupied a farm. They are expected to appear in court today, he added.
As the planting season nears and farmers and occupiers want to prepare their crops on the same land.