Personal letters like this one I received through my Gran really drill home the reality of what is happening in Zimbabwe at the moment. When will somebody step in and do something about this tragedy.

Dear Family and Friends,

Well never thought I would have to do this email do not know if it may be my
last from our farm “Chidza”.

At 3.30pm today a lorry load of so called Mugabe brain washed “war-vets”
arrived at our gate to take over our land, equipment and pedigree cattle.
This crazy action is occurring in a country where there is v little food
being produced !

It is now 6 pm and they have been singing their war songs at our gate for
three hours, the atmosphere is violent and more and more of them have
arrived.

We managed to get our daughter Alison and her young son “Little John”  into
town and for now it is just  John and myself, plus our dogs remaining in the
house on the farm.

They have said that our labour will not work tomorrow . They have demanded
that John must  kill them a sheep, which John has flatly refused to do, so
no doubt they will simply kill one for themselves.

None of our paid labour will even attmpt to come to work tomorrow either!
Graham Richards who lives south of us is also under siege at the same time
as us, so this siege of the last remaining whites is an orchestrated plan.

The Goddards and Deidricks are in the same boat. They have already taken
over Pa-Nyanda Guest Lodge, and Graham and his wife Callie are now in town.
Alison is at John sisters in Masvingo town and her husband Carl is expected
back from Bulawayo tonight.

Please pass this email on to as many folk as you would like to , this
illegal action must become “known” thru out the world.

If you know of anyone in the Media, please ensure that they become aware
/are alerted to this evil tyrant’s actions to keep power at all costs.

We have to let the world know what is happening.

Well done to Zesa. As they load shedded us and I phoned my friend in the
Zesa Faults and he phoned Harare and they have switched us back on.

So for now please keep all of us in your prayers and we will send a follow
up tomorrow if we are able.

Our love to you all.
John and Joy from Chidza.