'Britain must act on Zimbabwe'

A Zimbabwean farmer who fled the country after death threats for challenging Robert Mugabe's land grab in the Harare courts has called on Britain to take stronger action as Zimbabwe faces famine and looting rampages on white farms.

Guy Watson-Smith, 51, a father of two teenagers, fled to South Africa with his family in December after a series of "very serious telephone calls threatening my life" as his case came before the Zimbabwean High Court.

He said: "Jack Straw has been in the Congo over the last week but steered well clear of Zimbabwe. Tony Blair is supposed to be going to Africa soon. I cannot stress how important it is for Britain to get more closely involved with what is going on there. There have been a few words, but no action."

His farm, Alamein, which employs 300 people, has been " almost entirely looted of 450 cattle, tractors, irrigation equipment and other assets valued at about £1.5 million over the last week" after the High Court ruled that Mugabe's " acquisition" of the property did not extend to moveable assets.

Mr Watson-Smith's lawyer, Ray Baretto, was beaten up two weeks ago in his Harare offices after the court challenge to Mugabe, former army chief general Solomon Mujuru and the local leader of the war veterans carrying out the land grab.

The thugs who committed the assault claimed to be unpaid workers from Alamein.

Mr Watson-Smith said: "There is now a state of terror among farmers, whose land is not only being invaded but who are now being looted as well."

This week, at least two other farms were attacked by looters.

Zimbabwe already faces economic ruin. The latest figures show inflation at 112 per cent, and the threat of famine now looms large after the collapse of the mainly white-owned farming sector since Mugabe began his campaign to seize farms three years ago.

On Wednesday the United Nations delivered 5,200 tons of maize meal for famine relief from South Africa, and the UN's World Food Programme has launched an appeal to feed half a million of Zimbabwe's rural poor - facing an immediate threat of starvation.

Local production of food has dropped by 75 per cent in the past two years, and the US-based Famine Early Warning Unit has warned that 300,000 tons of corn will be needed or Zimbabwe will face mass starvation by March.

Next week Britain will press for the Commonwealth to suspend Zimbabwe's membership in protest at the rapidly deteriorating situation. But Mr Watson-Smith said such moves were largely symbolic.

He added: "We need more direct intervention. Blair has been to Kashmir and all over the place to other trouble spots. He should go to Zimbabwe, where Britain is the former power and where it still has enormous influence."

Mr Watson-Smith left his farm and Zimbabwe after his tobacco enterprise was placed under "new management". He said: "I was then marched to the gate [of the farm] and told that, if I ever showed my face there again, I would be shot. Today, the high court's sheriff - who went with police to collect the assets I have been told I could salvage - was driven off, even though he had three armed police."

Mugabe has tried to muzzle the local press, and Zimbabwe's parliament is currently debating a government-sponsored bill to ban foreign correspondents. Criticism of Mugabe is a criminal offence.

Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu) has been recruiting a militia in the towns and the countryside for months.

One farmer wrote via e-mail: "The farm workers . . . were ordered to send 10 youths to be taken for training in the militia, they refused to send anyone, though are nervous of the repercussions."