Zimbabwe moves to reassure Asian citizens

The Zimbabwean government today reassured its Asian citizens that their businesses and homes would not be seized by ruling party militants.

Home Affairs Minister John Nkomo said threats towards the 12,000-strong Asian community were being investigated.

The state Herald newspaper said Andrew Ndlovu and a dozen other ‘‘rogue war veterans’’ were being questioned by police over threats made last month.

Ndlovu, quoted in the Herald on April 24, warned that militants planned a ‘‘door to door’’ campaign to force Asians to hand over their businesses.

Nkomo said such threats were spurred by ‘‘personal agendas’’ and took advantage of the government’s land reform programme that has targeted most white-owned farms for seizure.

‘‘Certain statements have been made against some communities, including the Indian community. These statements are just hallucinations,’’ he said.

Ndlovu had accused Asian businessmen of smuggling hard currency out of the country and charging exorbitant rents for their properties, while holding down their employees’ wages.

Earlier, other government officials accused Asian shop owners of hoarding and profiteering as the country faced acute food shortages.

Asian businessmen, mostly descendants of Indian and Pakistani immigrants, have traditionally controlled many wholesale businesses and retail shops in most small towns.

State media this week said police were being ordered to evict settlers and squatters from some seized farms, nature conservancies and land owned by churches and other institutions.

White farmers, however, have reported little change in the programme for them to forfeit their land.

Nearly all the nation’s 4,000 white farmers have been served with forfeiture notices.

The Commercial Farmers Union has reported at least 250 farmers being driven from their land after receiving threats and ultimatums since disputed presidential elections returned President Robert Mugabe in March.