A judge delayed a hearing today for 21 white farmers accused of attacking occupiers on a farm, citing security concerns at the courtroom.
Magistrate Godfrey Gwaka remanded the high-profile case to tomorrow and ordered the 21 farmers held overnight, according to observers in the courtroom.
The official ZIANA news agency said Mr Gwaka was afraid that people at the courthouse in the northern town of Chinhoyi were likely to get violent, especially as it was almost dark when the farmers appeared.
Independent and foreign journalists were not able to enter the courthouse, as militant youths, identified by residents in Chinhoyi as supporters of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, chased them away.
Journalists from the state-controlled media were allowed inside.
Mr Mugabe has openly backed the forcible occupations of hundreds of white-owned farms as part of his scheme to redress colonial inequities in land ownership.
But the farm violence has had a strong political coloring, and has been closely linked to the intimidation of opposition supporters.
At least 34 people died in political violence ahead of last year's parliamentary elections, while rights groups say 19,000 were tortured.
AFP