Zanu PF bigwig seeks to evict 400 families

At least 400 families residing in Mashonaland East’s Seke district are facing eviction from a resettlement area to pave way for Zanu PF Harare provincial chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa’s residential housing project. This publication was told that there is a land dispute pitting Masimirembwa against the families residing at Garth farm.

Masimirembwa is planning to have families at the Garth farm evicted to pave way for access roads linking to his adjacent Boronia farm.

Last week, the sheriff of the High Court evicted some families, and their properties were reportedly destroyed in a move aimed at forcing them out of the property.

The affected families, who have been residing at the property for the past two decades, accused the politician of using his political muscle to have them evicted.

“He does not have a road permit to create access roads through our property and becomes vindictive to the extent of targeting individuals,” one of the affected villagers said.

“My property has been put by the roadside for the past three days.

The so-called sheriff forced entry to my house and destroyed the harvested maize and other items.

The sheriff was accompanied by a police car and other vehicles with no number plates and we believe those were hired thugs to intimidate us.”

The affected families said they were not given any notice of eviction.

“What makes us question this whole process is the conduct of the people who were accompanying the sheriff,” another villager said.

“They were supposed to remove our property without damaging it…they damaged our solar panels, doors and other property…”

Masimirembwa yesterday seemed to defend the eviction of the families.

“Have you seen the court order (for eviction) you allege is questionable?” he asked.

“If you have, have you investigated with the court which issued it to establish its authenticity.”

According to court papers, the land dispute has been dragging on since October 2023 when ‘heavy vehicle machines invaded Garth Farm’ and started clearing an area to pave way for roads.

“Upon inquiries by the applicants, they were advised by operators of the machines that they were clearing link roads for the Chiedza park, a residential park belonging to or being developed by the first respondent,” court papers read.

Masimirembwa’s New Century Productions (Pvt) Ltd is cited as the first respondent by the villagers.

Manyame Rural District Council and the Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement ministry are cited as second and third respondents respectively.

“However, the pathway of the intended link roads is passing through the applicants’ fields, pastures and residence,” the villagers submitted in court.

“The link roads currently cleared by the first respondent have destroyed the fields and pastures of the Applicants.

The first respondent does not have any lawful authority to invade the farm as it has done and has therefore resorted to self-help for its financial profiteering.

The Boronia farm where 15 respondent is developing a residential area has an already existing link road, which passes through Garth Farm and has been in existence for years.”

The villagers said they have been in peaceful occupation of the property since 2003.

Masimirembwa, however, argued that the villagers were residing at the farm illegally.

“The provisions of section 3 of the Gazetted Lands (Consequential Provisions) Act (Chapter 20:28) criminalise the occupation of land without lawful authority,” he submitted in his opposing papers.

“Lawful authority is defined to mean an offer letter or a permit or a land resettlement lease.

Applicant has none of the above and as a result has no authority to stay on the farm, he remains an illegal settler the court should treat him as such.” The Standard