Zimbabwean white farmers’ groups on Monday claimed President Robert Mugabe’s nationalist party had launched a fresh drive to force them from their land – only days after forming a coalition government designed to secure social peace and economic recovery.

Cases against farmers under land reform laws have been “fast-tracked” through the courts, according to the Commercial Farmers’ Union. “It is quite clear that there has been a final push,” said Hendrik Olivier, chief executive of the union, who said farmers were being accused of occupying land without necessary authority and evicted when found guilty.