Mugabe’s type of land reform in the dock

Initially William Michael Campbell, a commercial farmer in the Chegutu area, brought a case on behalf of himself, his employees and their families who live and work on the farm.  The Government of Zimbabwe has been attempting to seize the farm without compensation and the farmer and farm workers have been subjected to significant harassment.

This case was initially heard in December 2007 by the SADC Tribunal which ruled that the farmer could not be evicted pending finalisation of his case.  The Zimbabwean government said it would abide by the ruling, but the harassment has been ongoing.  

Since then, 77 other farmers have joined Campbell and the main case is set for hearing on 28 to 30 May 2008.

The Applicants say President Robert Mugabe’s so called “land reforms”, which have seen about 4 000 commercial farmers lose their properties, were racist and illegal under the SADC Treaty and 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.  

The destruction of Zimbabwe’s vibrant commercial farming sector, one of the three pillars of the economy, has been catastrophic. Previously a food secure nation and a significant exporter of agricultural produce, this once prosperous country now relies on massive quantities of food aid.  In January it was estimated that 4.1 million of the 7-8 million people left in the country required donor community food aid.  More than 4 million Zimbabweans are estimated to have fled the economic chaos and relentless state-sponsored violence.