News / Africa
Sadc Tribunal rulings are binding to Zimbabwe says SA Judges
27 Aug 2012 at 17:09hrs | Views
South Africa's Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein have put it to the Zimbabwean government's legal team that rulings made by the Southern African Development Community Tribunal are binding on member states.
Harare is challenging a North Gauteng High Court ruling which ordered the attachment of Zimbabwe properties in Cape Town, this after 78 Zimbabwean farmers challenged the land grab policy. The SADC tribunal ruled in their favour.
The Zimbabwean government has submitted in its appeal that the SADC Tribunal does not have jurisdiction to make such rulings.
Earlier, Zimbabwe's attorney-general confirmed in an affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court of Appeal that his country participated in the formation of the SADC Tribunal and even nominated a judge to preside.
The Appeal Court put it to senior council for the Zimbabwean government, Patric Mtshaulana, that the country is a signatory to the formation of the tribunal and therefore its decisions are binding on SADC member states. He now says Zimbabwe does not recognise the entire treaty.
Harare is challenging a North Gauteng High Court ruling which ordered the attachment of Zimbabwe properties in Cape Town, this after 78 Zimbabwean farmers challenged the land grab policy. The SADC tribunal ruled in their favour.
The Zimbabwean government has submitted in its appeal that the SADC Tribunal does not have jurisdiction to make such rulings.
Earlier, Zimbabwe's attorney-general confirmed in an affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court of Appeal that his country participated in the formation of the SADC Tribunal and even nominated a judge to preside.
The Appeal Court put it to senior council for the Zimbabwean government, Patric Mtshaulana, that the country is a signatory to the formation of the tribunal and therefore its decisions are binding on SADC member states. He now says Zimbabwe does not recognise the entire treaty.
Source - sabc
