20110513
Zimbabwe Independent

SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma has revealed that Sadc leaders would consider what measures to take against Zimbabwe at its summit in Namibia next week after the government refused to comply with the regional bloc's Tribunal ruling on land reforms in 2008.

Zimbabwe snubbed the Tribunal's ruling which found that Mike Campbell and 78 other farmers had been denied access to justice and that the country's land reform programme was discriminatory against white people.

In September 2009, Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa said: "We hereby advise that, henceforth, we will not appear before the Tribunal and neither will we respond to any action or suit instituted or be pending against the Republic of Zimbabwe before the Tribunal. For the same reasons, any decisions that the Tribunal may have or may make in future against the Republic of Zimbabwe are null and void."

Zuma said on Monday that a report commissioned by Sadc to review roles and responsibilities of the Tribunal with a view to strengthening it and improving its terms of reference was now ready.

The report also deals with the recognition and enforcement of decisions by the Tribunal.

"A report containing recommendations regarding these matters will be presented by the committee of ministers of justice and attorney-generals to a special Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit on May 19-20 in Windhoek," Zuma said in the South African parliament.