This Day in History: April 15, 2000
Additional Date: April 15, 2000
A White farmer, Davis Stevens, was shot dead in Zimbabwe by squatters occupying his land. He was the first White farmer to be killed in the on-going land confrontations involving so-called "war veterans" backed by President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party. Stevens was taken from his property 75 miles (120 kilometres) east of the capital, Harare, and driven into the bush. It was alleged that Stevens was targeted due to his support for the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC). Five other farmers who tried to help Stevens were also abducted - they were later released badly beaten. One of them, John Osborne, witnessed Stevens' murder.