Mugabe protects South African land

Mugabe protects South African land

• Supreme court says land seizures 'legal'

• Zimbabwe court throws settlers lifeline

• Only 32% of land ready for planting

• Amnesty Int demands inquiry itno Zim farm deaths

• Man dies in Porta Farm clashes

• Porta Farm residents vow to stay put

• Six farmers arrested in Karoi

• Mugabe's spin doctor unleashes hounds on wildlife sanctuary

• Moyo in hot water over state farm

• Grain research award for Zim scientist

• Zim seizes Zambia-bound farm equipment

• Nkomo declares war on 'saboteurs and infiltrators'

• Nkomo orders Moyo, Made and Chinamasa to surrender farms

• Mohadi sues Made over invaders

• Zanu PF factions battle over farms

• Trouble brews on Mohadi's farm

• No nationalisation - Moyo

• Zim to nationalise land - Nkomo

• Supreme Court blow for farmers

• Zimbabwe land grab law challenged

• Nuns join land grab

• Farmer shoots settler dead

• Msika: "Not defeated on Kondozi"

• Kondozi farm worker shot by police

• Nyambuya's workers desert farm

By Agencies

THE commercial agricultural organisation, AgriSA, on Friday welcomed the South African government's announcement that it would soon reach an agreement with Zimbabwe on land rights for South Africans there.

AgriSA executive director Hans van der Merwe responded to the announcement by the government while attending an agricultural conference in Zimbabwe.

Van der Merwe said his organisation had discussed the problems facing South African landowners in Zimbabwe last year with Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza and her Zimbabwean counterpart.

He hoped the agreement that was on the cards would be comprehensive enough and would be implemented satisfactorily.

On Thursday, SABC radio reported that Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa had said negotiations had been finalised and an agreement was ready to be signed.

According to this, South African investors in Zimbabwe would be able to take legal action if their property was seized.

Such a treaty was first mooted three years ago after Zimbabwe's controversial land-reform programme prompted fears of land owned by South Africans being seized.

A senior trade and industry official, who asked not be named, said South Africa was waiting for Zimbabwe to agree to a date for the signing.

Once endorsed, the pact would go before the South African parliament for ratification.
Sapa
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