Dismissed Caretaker Locks Out Employer, Claims Ownership Of Rural Home

A Marondera-based man has lost his rural home to a young man he had employed as a caretaker, allowing him to live on the property rent-free while ensuring its safety.

Samuel Nyambudzi has dragged his former house help, Shelton Toro, before Chief Mutasa’s community court in a bid to reclaim his homestead.

According to Nyambudzi, the relationship soured after Toro was dismissed from employment. Instead of vacating the property, Toro allegedly entrenched himself at the homestead, locking Nyambudzi out and behaving as though he were the rightful owner.

“Since I work in Marondera and stay there with my family, I looked for someone to be a caretaker at my rural home. That is how I ended up employing this young man,” said Nyambudzi.

“I told him that he would stay just like my son. His duty was simply to be a caretaker.

“He had the freedom to do whatever he wanted, even to look for other piece jobs, as long as he stayed at my place.”

Nyambudzi said that, over time, he began providing Toro with an allowance to support him.

“Now he does not want to see me there. He denies me access to my home. I went there last Tuesday, and he locked me out as if I were an intruder,” he said.

“For five days, I could not sleep in my own home. Ever since I introduced him to my son, he now claims that his employer is my son and not me.”

Nyambudzi further alleged that Toro had taken possession of the house keys and became verbally abusive whenever he attempted to enter the property.

“He insults me. He claims that I owe him money, which I am not aware of. He chased me away. I no longer have access to my own home,” he said.

The situation has also affected Nyambudzi’s son, John, who had been assigned to the rural home to oversee family projects and assist with operations.

“My father instructed me to take charge of our rural home, and that is how I met Toro. I started a banana plantation project there, but everything has changed,” John told the court.

“He no longer listens to us. Even when I call him, he becomes violent. At first, he was a good person, but now he walks around with the keys, locking my father out and acting as if we are working for him. He will not let us work on our own land.”

However, Toro rejected the allegations, insisting that he had not barred anyone from accessing the property and that the claims were being exaggerated.

“I never chased him away”, he said. “Yes, I lock the door, but everyone has their own key. He should be able to unlock it with his key. Why should I be the one to open for him?”

Chief Mutasa expressed concern over the breakdown of trust between employer and employee, warning that such disputes could easily escalate into larger conflicts if not resolved promptly.

In a preliminary ruling, the chief ordered the Nyambudzi family to reclaim control of their property by retrieving the keys and ensuring proper access was restored.

He further directed that Shelton Toro be paid any outstanding dues, if applicable, to prevent further grievances that could inflame the dispute.

However, the chief stressed that the matter was far from resolved. He said his court would conduct further investigations to establish the root cause of the conflict and determine whether any underlying issues were contributing to the situation.

_The Manica Post_