Distribution of land owned by SADC Member States n Zimbabwe

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 803

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION ON 15 OCTOBER 2004

MR DHM GIBSON (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

Whether any progress has been made in obtaining the delisting of farms earmarked for redistribution, owned by nationals from SADC member states in Zimbabwe; if not, what is the position in this regard, if so, what is the progress?
N1153E

REPLY:

To date, no farms listed under the Zimbabwean land reform programme, which are owned
by nationals from SADC member states in Zimbabwe have been de-listed in accordance
with the laws and regulations of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean Government is still in the
process of assessing the situation on the farms on a case- by- case basis.

The South African Government is constantly engaging the Zimbabwean Government to ensure that the Zimbabwean Government complies with its assurances. In addition, the South African Government has provided the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement with the list of names of farmers and their farms affected by the Fast Track Land Reform, and has also facilitated meetings between senior officials of the Ministry of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement and some of the affected farmers.

Furthermore, South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry has together with its Zimbabwean counterpart concluded a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA), which is aimed at, among other issues, protecting the properties of South African nationals in Zimbabwe. However, this Agreement is yet to be signed. It is still undergoing legal processes in Zimbabwe.