Zimbabwe Farmers Released on Bail

Twenty-one white farmers accused of attacking black squatters occupying local farms were released on bail Wednesday after spending more than two weeks in jail.

Despite fears that their release would ignite a new wave of violence and looting in the Chinhoyi district 70 miles northwest of Harare, the capital, the men walked out of prison and past a crowd of about 100 onlookers without incident.

President Robert Mugabe, meanwhile, compared the farmers to the devil and said they would not receive special treatment.

“They will not be treated like special creatures. Why should they be treated as if they are next to God?” Mugabe said in comments broadcast on state television.

“If anything, they are next to he who commands evil and resides in [the] inferno,” he said.

Each of the farmers posted $1,820 bail and a guarantee for the same in assets. The court ordered 20 of the farmers to leave Mashonaland West province, where they live, for four weeks, fearing that their presence could spark violence. An ailing farmer was allowed to return home.

Pro-government militants in the province have looted and burned white-owned homes during the last two weeks. Ruling-party militants have illegally occupied more than 1,700 white farms since March 2000.

Mugabe’s government supports the occupations and says it will seize 4,600 white farms and redistribute them to landless blacks.

The 21 farmers, who were arrested Aug. 6, denied assaulting the squatters and ruling-party militants. They said they were attacked first.