Second Zimbabwe farmer shot dead

Squatters have moved onto white farms all over Zimbabwe

A second white Zimbabwean farmer has died after being shot and beaten by war veterans supporting the land grab campaign.

The farmer, Martin Olds, died after being besieged in his farm near Bulawayo by about 100 war veterans who arrived in a convoy of trucks.

He called for assistance by telephone, saying he had been shot; but the authorities were unable to reach him until the squatters had left.

They killed my son. They beat him to a pulp

Gloria Olds

Rescuers found the farm building in flames and the farmer's body nearby.

Two white farmers and two black opposition activists have now died as tension mounts over the question of land ownership.

The latest death came as Zimbabwe marked its 20th anniversary of independence.

Latest victim

According to local farmers' leaders, Martin Olds had received death threats several days ago.

He was a vocal member of the farming community and had evacuated his wife and children from his home at Nyamandhlovu, 500 kms (300 miles) south of Harare.

The sites of the two farmers' deaths

BBC correspondent Ben Brown said when the squatters first attacked at dawn Mr Olds was shot in the leg.

He managed to attach a splint to it and carried on shooting, retreating into his house when he was shot again.

Molotov cocktails were then used to set his house ablaze.

He was forced out by the heat, and was shot in the head.

Farmer David Stevens was shot dead on Saturday

Local Farmers Union President Mac Crawford said he had tried to get the police to intervene but that they did virtually nothing to help.

An ambulance sent to bring Mr Olds to hospital did not manage to get past the squatters.

Mr Crawford said the government had been arming the veterans in his area.

David Stevens

On Saturday farmer David Stevens, was shot dead at point blank range by squatters who had occupied his farm at Macheke, south of Harare.

White farmers' representatives met Mr Mugabe on Monday, and said afterwards that the president had expressed regret at Mr Stevens's death.

But Mr Mugabe - who has previously given wholehearted support to the squatters - did not say he would order his supporters to leave white-owned land.