Mugabe's plan to seize farms is illegal, Supreme Court rules

In a serious challenge to President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's Supreme Court yesterday declared illegal the government's new land reform plan and the ruling party militants' occupations of white-owned farms.

In a serious challenge to President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's Supreme Court yesterday declared illegal the government's new land reform plan and the ruling party militants' occupations of white-owned farms.

Government officials were not available for comment after the ruling but Mr Mugabe has in the past indicated that he will go ahead with the land reform plan, aiming to seize white-owned land for redistribution among landless blacks, no matter what.

The five judges also ordered police "to use all means and authority available" to end occupation of 1,700 white-owned farms. Police have ignored previous court orders to remove the occupants.

The Supreme Court ruling said that police commanders not obeying the new order within 48 hours could be charged for contempt.

Six farmers have been killed and dozens of farm workers beaten since the occupations began in February. The occupations have disrupted farming, raising fears of food shortages.

Authorities plan to seize 3,000 white-owned farms by the end of the year under Mr Mugabe's "fast track" land reform plan, which began in June. According to law, the government must assess how much land improvements, such as irrigation and roads, on the farms are worth, and pay accordingly. It does not have to pay for the land.

The Supreme Court said that the government had failed to do the assessments and it had failed to give landowners three months' advance notice of the takeovers, as legallyrequired.

David Hasluck, head of the Commercial Farmers' Union, which represents Zimbabwe's white farmers, said he was "absolutely delighted" with the Supreme Court order. "We are both demanding and expecting that the government will comply, otherwise the ship of state will further founder on the rocks of anarchy," he said.

Zimbabwe's independent court system has often issued rulings declaring government moves illegal. Ruling party legislators have called for the resignation of all five Supreme Court judges.

Opponents accuse President Mugabe of using land seizures to improve his diminishing popularity. His ruling party won parliamentary elections in June with a much-reduced majority. The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, won 57 of 120 elected seats. Mr Mugabe's party controlled all but three seats in the previous parliament. (Associated Press)