Ex-farmer arrested over Zimbabwan militants' deaths
Police in Zimbabwe have arrested a retired white farmer for suspected involvement in the deaths of two ruling party militants in eastern Zimbabwe, the farmer’s relatives said today.
John Bibby, 70, was being held by police in Wedza, about 120 kilometres east of Harare, his son Peter Bibby said. He has been accused of being an accessory to the deaths yesterday of the two militants, an allegation he denies.
An unspecified number of farm workers were also arrested.
Two ruling party militants died during clashes with workers on the Bibby family tobacco, corn and cattle farm. Details of how the two died remains unclear.
No comment was immediately available from police.
Relatives said workers reported a raid on the farm by militants yesterday in which several workers’ homes were torched. About 35,000 bales of hay were also lit on fire.
John Bibby accompanied police to the workers’ village and was later arrested, said Peter Bibby, who was not at home at the time.
Peter Bibby cited witness reports that the two men who died appeared to have been knocked down by their own truck during the clashes. Militants arrived on the property in two heavy trucks.
At least 22 white farmers have been arrested since early August on allegations of violence against militants and squatters occupying their land with tacit Government approval.
Despite a deal brokered September 6 in Abuja, Nigeria, by a ministerial committee of the Commonwealth to restore order in farming districts and open national political dialogue in Zimbabwe, political violence and land occupations have continued.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe promised to abide by the accord, but there were doubts he could quickly rein in violence by militants who have illegally occupied 1,700 white-owned farms since March 2000.
