Hundreds of white farmers have fled from up to 80 properties in the prime commercial farming region of northern Zimbabwe as marauding bands continued to loot properties, farming officials said today.
Around 31 farms have been ransacked, with household goods being looted and livestock being driven away by gangs rampaging from farm to farm in the Doma area surrounding the northern town of Chinhoyi, Ms Jenni Williams, spokeswoman for the Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) said.
She said around 300 people had been driven from between 70 and 80 of the 100 farms in the Doma area since last Thursday.
State radio confirmed rampant looting Monday in Doma. "Farmhouses were literally cleaned (out)," it said.
The troubles began last week when white farmers clashed with blacks occupying land on a farm near Chinhoyi, 100 kilometres (60 miles) northeast of Harare, in Mashonaland West province.
The incident, in which 21 white farmers were arrested, sparked off a spate of retaliatory attacks on whites, which have spread to towns and farming areas throughout the region.
The farmers who were arrested are still in custody pending an application seeking bail.
The CFU estimates the bill for the theft and property damage has already run to about half a billion Zimbabwe dollars (nine million US dollars).
AFP