Zimbabwe's Commercial Farmers Union, which represents mainly white commercial farmers turned off their properties under land reform since 2000, said it has opened negotiations with the government seeking more than US$20 billion compensation for their losses.
CFU President Trevor Gifford said his organization decided to take this stance in view of the continuing farm invasions and harassment of the few hundred white farmers who continue to cultivate crops out of more than 4,000 before land redistribution began.
The CFU said 150 white commercial farmers have become entangled in legal pursuits in recent months while dozens have seen their property taken over or been assaulted.
Gifford told reporter Patience Rusere of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that US$20 billion is a reasonable demand for compensation under international law.