Militant pro-government war veterans have targeted the offices of European-funded orphanages in Zimbabwe, as part of a campaign of intimidation in the nation's cities, an aid agency director, Mr Ian Kuckow, said yesterday.
War veterans visited the suburban offices of SOS Children's Villages Zimbabwe - the local branch of the Vienna-based SOS Kinderdorf - on Thursday seeking to discuss the dismissal of an employee, he said.
Mr Kluckow, a Zimbabwean national, said the war veterans had asked to meet him, but he was away on a staff retreat. He closed the agency's offices yesterday and told his staff to work from home next week.
"I will not discuss the case with them because they are an illegitimate group," he said. "I will not negotiate with any war veteran or hand over any donor funds."
In recent weeks war veterans have spearheaded a campaign of intimidation and extortion against employers, claiming to act in the name of disgruntled employees. Several managers have been beaten during their visits, which frequently end with employers making huge payouts to end the ordeal.
The veterans have been at the forefront of political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe for more than a year, beginning with invasions of white-owned farms in February 2000. More than 35 people have died in political violence since then, while thousands more have been beaten and raped.
Yesterday Canada ran out of patience with Zimbabwe, suspending new development aid and imposing other sanctions in protest at what it described as the harassment of its citizens in Zimbabwe.
The Foreign Minister, Mr John Manley, said Canada was particularly unhappy about an incident last week when its top diplomat and a Canadian international aid group director were assaulted by war veterans. "We regret that the lack of rule of law, which has long affected the people of Zimbabwe, is now having a direct impact on Canadian citizens. This means we must re-examine our aid relations with Zimbabwe," he said.
Canada will now suspend new development aid to the Zimbabwean government, cut off export financing and ban its participation in Canadian peacekeeping training courses.
Britain, South Africa and Germany have also complained to Zimbabwe after attacks on their nationals. The war veterans accuse aid organisations and diplomatic missions of supporting political opposition to President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party. Their actions are seen as part of a strategy to win workers' support for Mr Mugabe who is seeking re-election next year. The main unions support his political opponents.
The Commonwealth yesterday joined the chorus of concern, expressing regret at Harare's decision not to receive a diplomatic fact-finding mission. The mission was to inestigate alleged government abuses.
Lieut-Gen MS Merafhe, who is chairman of the Commonwealth ministerial action group (CMAG), said efforts to maintain dialogue with Harare would continue, despite the setback.
Meanwhile, one of Zimbabwe's most prestigious national parks has been set aside for settlement by cattle grazers and their families under the government's land reform plan, the weekly Zimbabwean Independent reported yesterday.
Villagers have started to move into parts of the renowned Gonarezhou National Park with their cattle, the weekly said. Gonarezhou, perched on Zimbabwe's south-east border with Mozambique, is home to a growing elephant population and one of the country's leading tourist attractions. Lions, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and the rare Nyala antelopes also roam the park.