The SADC Tribunal in Windhoek was faced with a very big challenge on17  July, when the legal team of the Zimbabwe government left the court informally.
The SADC Tribunal held the hearing of a number of Zim-babwe farmers who allege that they were illegally removed from their land. The matter originated from a suit which was laid before the Tribunal last year by Mr Mike Campbell. In the meantime about 77 other farmers also had their suits joined with Mr Campbell’s. Even though the Court decided that Mr Camp-bell could continue on his farm with his farming acti-vities under protection of government, he and his fami-ly were kidnapped and as-saulted about a month ago. His son in law, Mr Ben Freeth attended the court case in a wheelchair after the assault.
The verdict of the Tribunal is critical for the future of the acknowledgement of right of ownership and human right in the SADC region and thus the enforcement of law and order. The verdict will also give an indication to what degree land reform within the framework of the Consti-tutions and other legislation of the various member countries should be prevailed. The Court reserved judgment.