IPFS News Link • TERRORISM
Farmer reveals the bloody face of Zimbabwe terror
• Scotsman Mr Pott, who is of Scottish descent, was left with broken ribs and head injuries after a mob attacked him on his farm in Chinhoyi, central Zimbabwe last week.
The incident shows how terrifying life has become for the country's last white farmers seven months into the power-sharing agreement between president Robert Mugabe and former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai that was widely expected to end land invasions.
"I was attacked in my mother's yard by 13 people," Mr Pott told The Scotsman. "I was hit 28 times with sticks."
Blood streaming down his face, the father of two was rushed to a government hospital. Mr Pott, who grew tobacco, soyabeans, potatoes and desperately-needed maize on his Hilltop Farm, has kidney problems because of his injuries.
Farmers' groups say that Mr Mugabe is using youths to stir up violence in a throwback to the early days of Zimbabwe's white farm seizures. Mr Tsvangirai, who is now prime minister, appears powerless to stop him.
Thirteen white farmers were murdered after Mr Mugabe ordered (now late) war veterans' leader 'Hitler' Hunzvi to lead farm invasions in 2001: since then, more than 3,000 people have lost homes and livelihoods.
Police have been given orders not to arrest perpetrators of the latest violence: when Mr Pott gave a video of Tuesday's attack to the police, they responded by charging him with public violence.
"They are saying I was the one doing the violence. But I was only one person against 13," said Mr Pott. One of the youths was knocked to the ground during the attack. "I have the paperwork to be allowed to carry on farming," the farmer said.
Mr Mugabe is defiant. "If they (white farmers] thought they would be saved by the inclusive government, that is a lie," he told Zanu-PF youths this month.
The incident shows how terrifying life has become for the country's last white farmers seven months into the power-sharing agreement between president Robert Mugabe and former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai that was widely expected to end land invasions.
"I was attacked in my mother's yard by 13 people," Mr Pott told The Scotsman. "I was hit 28 times with sticks."
Blood streaming down his face, the father of two was rushed to a government hospital. Mr Pott, who grew tobacco, soyabeans, potatoes and desperately-needed maize on his Hilltop Farm, has kidney problems because of his injuries.
Farmers' groups say that Mr Mugabe is using youths to stir up violence in a throwback to the early days of Zimbabwe's white farm seizures. Mr Tsvangirai, who is now prime minister, appears powerless to stop him.
Thirteen white farmers were murdered after Mr Mugabe ordered (now late) war veterans' leader 'Hitler' Hunzvi to lead farm invasions in 2001: since then, more than 3,000 people have lost homes and livelihoods.
Police have been given orders not to arrest perpetrators of the latest violence: when Mr Pott gave a video of Tuesday's attack to the police, they responded by charging him with public violence.
"They are saying I was the one doing the violence. But I was only one person against 13," said Mr Pott. One of the youths was knocked to the ground during the attack. "I have the paperwork to be allowed to carry on farming," the farmer said.
Mr Mugabe is defiant. "If they (white farmers] thought they would be saved by the inclusive government, that is a lie," he told Zanu-PF youths this month.
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