Mugabe's sister 'wanted murdered farmer's house'

The white Zimbabwean farmer murdered by a mob was allegedly targeted 16 months ago by the sister of Robert Mugabe - who wanted his house for herself.

Terry Ford, 55, was beaten and shot in the head on his ranch to the west of the capital Harare on Monday.

The brutal killing comes after Sabina Mugabe, an MP and elder sister of the Zimbabwean leader, told Mr Ford in November 2000 she wanted his farmstead "so she could move in", according to the Commercial Farmers' Union, which reported the matter at the time.

It said Sabina had been driving around farming areas in her black Mercedes limousine leading illegal occupations of farms.

Mr Ford's brother Paul, 42, who moved to Poole, Dorset, six years ago to escape the escalating violence, said: "I know about Mugabe's sister. They were all after him, and now they've got him. It was Mugabe's henchmen, no doubt.

"All he had was his house. What more did they want? What was the point of murdering him?"

He described his brother as a quiet, gentle man with a passion for the African country.

Mr Ford's funeral is set for Friday and a memorial service is planned for Wednesday next week.

Squeak, Mr Ford's faithful Jack Russell terrier who refused to leave his side as he lay dead, is being looked after in Harare and is "doing well", said Paul Ford.

He said he had no faith in the police investigation into his brother's death. There is no suggestion Sabina Mugabe was involved.