Aussies denounce Zim attack

2002-05-06 11:57

Canberra - Australia's foreign minister has condemned the shooting of an Australian farmer in Zimbabwe, accusing the government of carrying out a violent and racist campaign to evict white property owners.

Alexander Downer was speaking three days after a 47-year-old Australian woman was shot and wounded at her farm, east of Harare, the capital.

The farm was one of 5 000 that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's government has designated for redistribution to black families under a controversial land-reform programme.

Eleven whites have been killed in violence involving ruling-party militants trying to occupy farms.

Downer said: "Just about all farms owned by whites in Zimbabwe are marked for seizure and our expectation is that the government ... is just going to continue to run a violent and vicious campaign until those white farmers leave.

"That is racism at its worst, and it is something we abhor."

The farmer, Cheryl Jones, was shot on Friday after being robbed at the entrance to her farm in Headlands, 160km east of Harare. She was in a stable condition on Monday, said Australian officials.

Jones is originally from Wagga Wagga, 500km southwest of Sydney.

Neighbours said police had not made any arrests. - Sapa-AP

- SAPA