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1930
The Land Appointment Act denies land ownership to Africans and simultaneously forces Africans to work the land.
View an interactive timeline of Zimbabwe's history and Robert Mugabe's rule »
August 1974
Photo credit: Robin Hammond
1979
The British-brokered Lancaster House Agreement marks the end of colonialism in Zimbabwe but protects white farms from acquisition for 10 years following independence.
1992
The government implements the Land Acquisition Act. This act strengthens the power of the government to acquire land for resettlement. The government is required to provide "fair" compensation for the land it acquires.
1997
1999
Photo credit: Robin Hammond
2000
September 2004
Zimbabwe's government offers the Mount Carmel farm to Nathan Shamuyarira, a spokesman for ZANU-PF (Robert Mugabe's party) and former minister of information. Mistakes in the acquisition order give Mike Campbell a reprieve, but vandalism on the farm escalates.
September 14, 2005
Robert Mugabe's government adds Amendment 17 to Zimbabwe's constitution, allowing the state to seize agricultural land after it has been "gazetted" (meaning a notice of the seizure has been published in a newspaper). The amendment also prohibits legal challenges to the acquisitions.
View Zimbabwe's amended constitution (PDF) »
May 15, 2006
View a list of beneficiaries of Chegutu district farms on DocumentCloud »
December 2006
The Gazetted Land Act passes, creating a maximum two-year jail term for farmers who do not vacate their land.
April 2007
October 1, 2007
October 11, 2007
After exhausting other legal challenges, Mike Campbell files a case with the SADC tribunal.
November-December 2007
December 13, 2007
View the SADC tribunal's 2007 interim order on DocumentCloud »
January 22, 2008
The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe dismisses Campbell's 2006 challenge to Amendment 17.
March 2008
Seventy-seven white farmers join Campbell's SADC tribunal case.
May-June 2008
The government of Zimbabwe delays the SADC tribunal case, citing a lack of resources and inability to process documents fast enough.
Examine the SADC tribunal application submitted by Campbell's lawyers on DocumentCloud »
June 29, 2008
July 16-18, 2008
November 28, 2008
View the 2008 SADC tribunal decision on DocumentCloud »
December 23, 2008
Mike Campbell registers for a hearing in Zimbabwe's high court, but his application is rejected.
February 28, 2009
Robert Mugabe openly rejects the SADC tribunal's judgment and authority. At an 85th birthday rally, he is quoted saying, "Land distribution will continue. It will not stop. The few remaining white farmers should quickly vacate their farms as they have no place there. ... Our land issues are not subject to the SADC tribunal."
April 3, 2009
Lovemore Madangonda (a.k.a. "Landmine") invades Mount Carmel. The farm's workers are beaten.
April 5, 2009
The Campbells are evicted.
April 17-30, 2009
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's deputy and other ministers assemble at Mount Carmel farm to allow work to continue, but the workers are thwarted by the invaders. Other high court rulings fail to dislodge the squatters.
June 5, 2009
The SADC tribunal holds Zimbabwe's government in contempt for a second time and awards a payment to the farmers. No payment is received.
View the SADC tribunal application submitted by Campbell's lawyers on DocumentCloud »
View the 2009 SADC Tribunal ruling on DocumentCloud »
August-September 2009
July 16, 2010
The SADC tribunal finds Zimbabwe's government in contempt for a third time.
View the 2010 SADC tribunal decision on DocumentCloud »
August 2010
The SADC Summit, a meeting of leaders from member nations, seeks to dissolves the SADC tribunal and effectively suspends it by failing to reappoint judges.
Read a summary of the SADC Summit »
April 6, 2011
Read a statement on Campbell's death »
May 20, 2011
The SADC Summit dissolves the SADC tribunal.
Read a statement from SADC Tribunal Watch decrying the tribunal's dissolution on DocumentCloud »
Explore documents related to Mike Campbell's case against Robert Mugabe and the government of Zimbabwe:
SADC tribunal rulings appear here courtesy of the South African Legal Information Institute (SAFLII).