Zimbabwe's white landowners are steeling themselves for further invasions early next week following a warning by President Robert Mugabe that he intends to press ahead with farm seizures.
The invasions have increased in recent days following a brief post-election lull, with the war veterans awaiting the expiry of next Monday's deadline for appeals against an order permitting the seizure of 804 white farms.
"The war vets are going from farm to farm, telling people they have to get off by Monday. We're rapidly reaching the stage where people are going to pack up and go," said Commercial Farmers' Union director Dr Jerry Grant.
The police reaction to the ultimatums had been "somewhat tardy", he added.
Other farmers, whose land has not been listed for acquisition, are also being warned that they will be forced out next week.
"There's a general build-up of tension," said Ian Millar, a farmer from Marondera, where two white landowners have already been killed.
"There are more vets than ever on the farms and I fear there will be violence. I don't know if it will be this week or next week, but it will come."
Morale among farmers is low after the dashing of hopes that the elections would signal the end of violent occupations. "We thought we could sit down and find a way forward," said Dr Grant, who added that 200 non-listed farms were currently available for voluntary redistribution.
The uncertainty and trepidation is already having an impact on next season's crops. A recent survey of 500 farms in Marondera East found that 28 per cent less tobacco has been planted while maize-planting has dropped by 35 per cent.
In a separate development, one of Zimbabwe's most notorious war veteran leaders has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder.
Wilson Kufa Citoro (60), also known as Big Citoro, is accused of abducting and torturing three supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party earlier this month. Mr Citoro is a senior regional officer of the ruling ZANU-PF party.
A court hearing in Zvishavane, 400 kilometres south of Harare, heard last Thursday that the kidnapped men were beaten repeatedly over three days with sticks and whips on Texas Ranch, an occupied white-owned farm.
Reuters adds:
Zimbabwe's new cabinet, to be announced next week, is likely to contain many new faces after seven cabinet members lost their seats in last weekend's election. Mr Chenjerai "Hitler" Hunzvi, the farm occupation leader, who won a rural seat for ZANU-PF, has said he expects a post.