South Africa's biggest farmers union Agri SA on Monday urged the country's government to ensure a planned investment protection agreement with Zimbabwe includes a clause to protect land and property rights.

South Africa and Zimbabwe have for several years been in talks over a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement that would pave way for South African investment in Zimbabwe and, among other things, protect the properties of South African nationals in the country's northern neighbour.

However, the conclusion of the agreement, which was expected to have been signed earlier this year, has apparently been stalled by Zimbabwe's demand to have land omitted from the pact.

"Agri SA wishes to urge the South African government not to succumb to Zimbabwe's demands to exclude land from the proposed bilateral investment agreement between the two governments," the union said in a statement.

It said South Africa's response to the demands "will also send an important signal to local land owners regarding the South African government's willingness to respect and protect their interests in South Africa and in a regional context".

South Africa's government plans to resubmit a draft law to parliament that would make it easier for the state to forcibly seize land if negotiations to buy it from white farmers fail.

But farmers' groupings say the law would be unconstitutional and have called for more protection for their properties.

source: Reuters