Zimbabwe Farmers Show Solidarity
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - At least a dozen white Zimbabweans shaved their heads Friday to show solidarity with 21 white farmers who are facing charges of attacking black squatters on white-owned land.
The protest at a barbershop in Chinhoyi, 70 miles northwest of Harare, came as High Court Judge Rita Makarau delayed for a second day a decision on whether to set bail for the farmers. Firoz Girach, an attorney for the farmers, called the delay part of a government policy of harassment.
Ruling party militants have illegally occupied more than 1,700 white-owned farms since March 2000, spurred by a government campaign to seize 4,600 farms owned by whites and give the land to blacks. The targeted farms make up about 95 percent of the land owned by whites.
The 21 farmers arrested in the Aug. 6 incident deny they assaulted squatters and ruling party militants. They said they went to the assistance of a colleague under siege by the squatters, and were attacked first.
Citing the recent violence against whites, police officials said they could not guarantee the farmers' safety should they be released.
The detainees' hair was shaved off while in jail, and lawyers have argued that their shaved heads would put them in danger by making them easily identifiable to militants once they were released.
According to the farmers' union, more than 45 farms have been trashed by attackers since Aug. 8, and one homestead was gutted by fire. The damage has been estimated at $18 million.
Originally published August 17, 2001.
