A tense standoff is building in Zimbabwe tonight as many defiant white farmers refused to leave their homes, which had been listed for redistribution to landless blacks.
None of the farmers have been forcibly evicted after a deadline passed for them to get off their land at midnight last night.
But it remained unclear how the government of President Robert Mugabe would deal with the farmers who stayed on their properties.
"There has been no activity, arrests or approaches at this time," said Mr David Hasluck, director of the Commercial Farmers Union.
Local police said they had no plans to move in and evict the 2,900 farmers by force.
Many farmers packed personal belongings and valuables in case they had to leave at short notice.
But up to three-quarters of those facing immediate eviction have vowed to stay on until it becomes clear what the government's next move will be.
The CFU advised its members to remain calm and avoid confrontation if approached by government officials or ruling party militants.
Mr Mugabe’s government has targeted 95 per cent of white-owned farms for seizure, leaving the fate of as many as two million farm labourers and their relatives hanging in the balance.
Mr Mugabe won a disputed election in March that was condemned by Britain, the US, the Commonwealth and human rights groups as far from free and fair.
Opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, who is currently facing treason charges that carry the death penalty, called the election result "daylight robbery".
The deadline came as half Zimbabwe's 12.5 million people face severe hunger, according to the UN's World Food Programme.
AP