HARARE, Zimbabwe -- In a rare intervention, police arrested the leader of a group of squatters after they beat up workers on a white-owned farm, officials said Sunday, but squatters staged other attacks elsewhere.
In a sign the often violent takeovers of 1,000 white-owned farms might ease, a national leader of the squatters said he would travel around the country to cool the standoff and ensure that planting could begin within three days.The leader, Chenjerai Hunzvi -- who heads a group of independence war veterans who have spearheaded the farm occupations -- and the Commercial Farmers Union announced Friday they had reached an agreement that would stop violence and allow farming to continue.
Farmer representatives said Hunzvi should spread the word among squatters to be peaceful. At least 13 people have died from political violence in recent weeks.
No additional deaths were reported Sunday, but squatters attacked laborers overnight on three farms in Mvurwi, 75 miles north of Harare, farmers union boss David Hasluck said Sunday. None required medical care, he said.
In a separate incident, a farmer traveling with employees in a pickup truck in Masvingo, 75 miles south of Harare, was stopped by war veterans who smashed the vehicle's windows, Hasluck said.
The farmer escaped, but two workers were abducted. One was found severely beaten Sunday and was treated at a clinic.
The other was still missing.