SADC to re-constitute contentious tribunal
21/05/2011 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
THE regional SADC grouping will reconstitute its judicial arm following
pressure from the Zimbabwe government which has been critical of its rulings
against the country’s land reforms.
Foreign affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi welcomed the development
which was taken at an extraordinary SADC summit underway in Namibia.
“We are very happy because we have fought for this decision for a very long
time,” Mumbengegwi told state media.
“So today we have completely and totally dissolved the tribunal.”
The tribunal ruled in favour of some white former commercial farmers who
sought to have the seizure of their farms under the country’s land reforms
reversed.
Zimbabwe objected to the tribunal’s findings arguing they contravened the
country’s constitutional position.
The country’s Supreme Court ruled that the land reforms were constitutional.
The government also insisted it would not be bound by the tribunal’s ruling
arguing the body had not been ratified by two thirds of SADC’s member states
re required under its constitutive treaty.
Ten countries, including Zimbabwe, have yet to ratify the treaty which
established the body.
The Tribunal was established in 1992 but its judges – who are referred to as
members – took office in 2005.
Zimbabwean judge, Justice Antonia Guvava is one of the regular members of
the body.