HARARE, Zimbabwe, March 28 (UPI) -- A Zimbabwean official says people caught invading farms will be arrested, noting that land takeovers amount to theft.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai made his comments in an apparent challenge to President Robert Mugabe, who said recently that the government would continue to seize white-owned farms as part of his land policy, BBC reported Saturday.
Tsvangirai and Mugabe joined in a power-sharing government last month following a long-contested election.
"This government is aware that most of the ongoing disruptions of agricultural production, which are being done in the name of the land reform process, are actually acts of theft," Tsvangirai was quoted by the British network as saying.
"Those continuing to undertake these activities will be arrested and face justice in the courts. I have tasked the minister of home affairs to ensure that all crimes are acted upon and the perpetrators arrested and charged."
BBC noted that under the Zimbabwean power-sharing agreement, there are two home affairs ministers because neither Tsvangirai nor Mugabe would cede control of the ministry that is responsible for public safety.
