A Zimbabwean farmer has asked a new southern African court to prevent his land being seized by the government.
The Southern African Development Community Tribunal was established last year, based in Namibia.
Michael Campbell wants it to overturn the seizure of his farm, saying it is an example of racial discrimination, which the Sadc treaty outlaws.
Most of Zimbabwe's 4,000 white farmers have been forced off their land since 2000 under a government programme.
President Robert Mugabe says the programme is to reverse imbalances in land ownership resulting from the colonial era.
His critics say it is a cynical ploy to buy votes by distributing land to his supporters, which has led to a collapse in Zimbabwe's agricultural production.
Jail threat
"If this application is successful, it will raise the matter to an entirely new level within Sadc, that will put the Zimbabwean government at odds with the other member countries," said Adrian de Bourbon, Mr Campbell's lawyer.
The tribunal said it would rule this week on whether it has jurisdiction to hear the case.
Mr de Bourbon said that Zimbabwe's government had changed the constitution, removing the right of appeal from farm-owners.
"This left us with no legal relief or remedy in Zimbabwe and we approached the Sadc tribunal."
Mr Campbell is one of 11 farmers from Chegutu, south-west of Harare, who faces criminal charges for refusing to leave his land, Mr de Bourbon told the AFP news agency.
The farmers could face up to two years in jail if found guilty, say reports.
AFP reports that the Sadc Tribunal was set up to ensure that member states respect the body's treaty, which includes human and property rights.
Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper reports that Mr Campbell has based his case on article 6 of the treaty, which outlaws discrimination against any person on the basis of gender, religion, race, ethnic origin and culture.
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