Ex-US ranch owner, 79, killed in Zimbabwe

SAPA-AFP via Independent Online ^ | July 1, 2002

[Clive]

Harare - A retired doctor from West Virginia has been killed in an apparent hijacking in Zimbabwe, local residents said on Monday.

The body of Dr Roy "Tom" Raub, 79, was found late on Saturday beside the road about 130km north-west of Bulawayo, a member of the local farming community said on condition of anonymity. Raub's Toyota Land Cruiser was missing.

After retiring about 10 years ago, Raub bought a home in Bulawayo and a 12 000 hectare game hunting ranch near Hwange National Park.

He was apparently killed a few kilometres from his ranch and the crime did not appear politically motivated, local residents said.

US Embassy spokesperson Bruce Wharton confirmed that a US citizen was found dead in western Zimbabwe, but said privacy laws forbade him from releasing further information.

Police Inspector Andrew Phiri said a statement would be issued after the circumstances of the crime were confirmed.

Jenni Williams, spokesperson for the Commercial Farmers Union, said neighbours were trying to find out whether the killing was linked to ongoing unrest associated with President Robert Mugabe's efforts to seize white-owned farmland for redistribution to landless blacks. Six whites have been killed in political violence in the past two years.

In 2000, Martin Olds, a game rancher and opposition activist, was shot dead in his home during a prolonged gun battle with ruling party militants while police barred rescuers from the property. No one was arrested for the killing. - Sapa-AP

[Clive]

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[Bigg Red]

Somebody wanted his Land Cruiser, and he wouldn't give it up. You gotta problem with that? So sad the barbarism in that country.

[Twodees]

So, if the commies take your truck after killing you for your land, it becomes a carjacking? I don't think so. Here we have someone who is very likely to have been a US citizen apparently killed as part of a Zimbabwe government policy of killing landowners.

The title is disingenuous, "Ex US Ranch Owner" sounds like a Rhodesian who may have once owned a ranch in the US, rather than an American who bought a ranch in Zimbabwe. Until I read that this is a citizen of Zimbabwe who renounced US citizenship, then the involvement of the State dept. makes this look like a US citizen killed by Mugabe's thugs for his land.

[norton]

A "no fly zone"?

In Zimbabwe?

Sarcasm, right?

[chemainus]

You got it all wrong...talk to happygrl...she never met a Zimbabwean she didn't like....they need a new government, bought and paid for by us, whose fault it is that they don't have the right one now...etc etc etc etc etc

[jrewingjr]

These animals over there are nothing but criminals and cowards. Murdering a 79 year old retired WV doctor for his vehicle.

Woe to those responsible for this, because they have now killed on of our own. I'll take a couple hundred pissed-off Mountaineer snipers over 20,000 Zimbabwe "war veterans" felons any day.

Time to "let the bodies hit the floor."

[folklore]

This is sad. Until I calm down, I will refrain from any other comment.

[hove]

What's up with these farmers. Mugabe wants them gone. He will kill them if they don't go. And yet they stay and are being picked off one at a time. These farmers need to band together and fight....and I mean seriously take up arms and fight. Or they need to flee the country. Sadly, that is their choice. But they are mistaken (and stupid) if they think they can wait this thing out.

[Twodees]

No we don't. Letters of marque and reprisal can be issued by Congress to private citizens if our president doesn't see the murder of a citizen as a big deal. We don't need any such UN hassayampa, though.

[Twodees]

I'm not familiar with happygrl, but that kind of thinking ain't exactly on par with Einstein's, is it?

US politicians, notably Jimmy Carter share the blame with some Brit politicians for Mugabe ever gaining power to begin with, but I don't see Zimbabwe as the US's fault or responsibility.

[monkeywrench]

I agree. Why aren't they banding together do you suppose?

[Clive]

Perhaps you both ought to read happygrl's postings to the numerous threads on Zimbabwe before you ascrive motivation to her.

She, like most of those who have actually been following the situation in Zimbabwe, is highly critical of Migabe. his party and his thugs and is highly supportive of the commercial farmers and their employees.

[jrewingjr]

Bump.