The Zimbabwe government says it will abide by last week’s ruling by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal not to evict a white farmer pending finalisation of his case.
The SADC Tribunal ruled that William Michael Campbell should be allowed to stay on his property in Chegutu pending the final determination of his appeal against the seizure of his farm.
Zimbabwe’s State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa, who is also in charge of land reform and resettlement, said Harare will respect the judgment.
“The Namibian court does not know the situation on the ground . . . but we will abide by the ruling,” said Mutasa who is still pushing for the ouster of the few remaining white farmers in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe government signed into law the controversial Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 17 two years ago. The new law allows the Harare authorities to seize farmland without compensation. It also bars courts from hearing appeals from dispossessed white farmers.
Campbell says the new law is a violation of his constitutional rights. The Supreme Court, which is hearing the matter, reserved judgment on the matter last March.
The white farmer says President Robert Mugabe’s land reforms, that have seen about 4 000 farmers lose their properties, were racist and illegal under the SADC Treaty adding that Article 6 of the treaty bars member states from discriminating against any person on the grounds of race, ethnic origin and culture.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the SADC Treaty.
