Pact must address land seizures: SA farmers

Agri-SA which represents over 70 000 large and small-scale commercial farmers in Africas biggest economy said in a statement that the South African government should not to buckle under pressure from Zimbabwe to exclude the land reform programme from the agreement.?

“Expectations are still that the agreement should only be finalised once the South African government has completed its policy review on bilateral agreements, and that the government should not buckle under pressure from the Zimbabwean government to exclude its land reform programme results from such an agreement,” Agri-SA said.?

The farmers body said the content of the BIPA had not yet been discussed with the South African business community although it has been invited to participate in an investment seminar on November 27, in Harare, where the agreement is set to be signed.

Agri-SA and Zimbabwe’s Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU) will hold a meeting on November 25 to set up a forum to raise collective concerns before the two governments sign the trade pact.?

“The forum will also consider other mechanisms at its disposal to ensure that fairness and justice prevails regarding the confiscation of assets in Zimbabwe,” Agri-SA said.?

Signing of the agreement between the countries that are each others biggest trading partner on the continent in addition to being strong political allies has on several occasions been postponed on the eleventh hour, apparently after Harare objected to a clause in the accord referring to land investments.

Mugabes chaotic and often violent programme to seize white-owned farm land for redistribution to landless blacks has seen several farms owned by foreigners and protected under bilaterzl trade agreements between Zimbabwe and other countries seized without compensation.

The seizure of private land has raised questions about Zimbabwes commitment to uphold property rights as well as agreements entered with other countries.