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Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - Web posted at 2:15:39 pm GMT

HARARE - Some white farmers in Zimbabwe have begun to legally challenge land reform laws which required them to have stopped farming by midnight Monday before the government allocates their land to black farmers.

"As of today, strictly speaking I am supposed to stop farming yet I have 20 hectares (50 acres) of coffee in the middle of reaping, tobacco in the barns waiting to be graded and paprika," Andy Kockott of Tengwe Estate said.

"This is why I am challenging," he told AFP by telephone from his farm, explaining that he wanted at least to be allowed to reap his crop.

Kockott said he bought his 586 hectare farm in 1995 and that it is the only farm he owns, but he has received a notice to compulsorily take over his property, despite government's promises that it will not take away land from farmers who possess only one farm.

Meantime Jenni Williams, spokeswoman for the Commercial Farmers Union, said farmers who were trying to move their movable equipment, in compliance with the order to stop farming, have been intimidated and barred by settlers and war veterans.

Some 2 900 farmers were supposed to stop farming Monday under the new land law which came into effect on May 10, but many farmers defied the order, which came as the southern African country faces a serious shortage of food.

"This move defies logic, that 13 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) could be rendered illegal overnight in a country that is facing starvation," said Williams.

Zimbabwe faces a food shortage affecting up to 7,8 million people, or more than half of its 12 million population. - Nampa-AFP