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Victorious Mugabe mocks 'colonial' Britain--[Excerpt] Mr Mugabe's militant supporters clearly anticipated his pledge yesterday to speed up land seizures by driving away Ian Kay, an MDC supporter, and his wife Kerry along with 80 workers from their farm 45 miles south-east of Harare, on Saturday. The Kays, unlike many white farmers, continued publicly to support the MDC after land invasions began in February 2000. Witnesses say the Zanu PF flag was raised above their looted home.

The Commercial Farmers' Union said yesterday that another 44 white farmers would be charged today in connection with assistance given to the MDC during the election. These farmers, from the Raffingora area, north of Harare have been in hiding since police let it be known they were wanted and would be arrested. Some 56 farmers, including their wives, are now facing charges since the start of voting on March 9. More than 150 white farmers have been charged with offences in the last two years. So far not one has been brought to trial.

Roy Bennett, an MDC MP in the eastern Manicaland Province, said yesterday that the purge against MDC election support staff and supporters was reaching "grotesque" levels. "People are being attacked, one man was killed in my area, many are beaten, and many houses have been burned down. This is not going to stop." [End Excerpt

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Mugabe sworn in after tainted vote - new vote fraud numbers revealed - 55 white farmers-wives arrested --[Excerpt] Most of his speech, however, was devoted to the two main issues of his campaign: land reform and sovereignty. Both themes emerged two years ago as Tsvangirai's fledgling Movement for Democratic Change scored a sudden victory against Mugabe just five months after being formed, leading voters to reject the president's proposed new constitution in a national referendum.

Smarting from defeat, Mugabe unleashed veterans of the liberation war and other party supporters in a violent campaign against white-owned commercial farms. In the subsequent two years, nearly 1,700 farms were occupied and 4,526 were listed for forced acquisition by the state.

Barely visible behind a bank of microphones yesterday, he said the final phase of his land reform program - resettlement of the acquired farms by black peasant families and aspiring black commercial farmers - ''must proceed with greater strength and speed.''

His words have already been backed by action. In the nine days since the polls first opened, dozens of white farmers and their wives - 55 people in all - have been arrested and detained on a broad range of conspiracy charges. Others have been driven off their land in recent days by militant ruling-party youths. [End Excerpt]