US$200 000 up in smoke as former CCC candidate is evicted from his farm - Nehanda Radio

Source: Nehanda Radio
Author: Masvingo Mirror

MVUMA - High Court Judge, Justice Garainesu Mawadze has thrown out an appeal by Patrick Cheza, a businessman and former CCC candidate for Chirumhanzu South, who was challenging his eviction from S/D 43 Mahara Farm, Ward 16 Mvuma, where he made capital investments of US$200 000.

Cheza told Justice Mawadze at the High Court in Masvingo that of the 61 farmers settled at the same scheme, he is the only one who is being evicted.

He said he was told that his eviction from the 125-hectare farm is to clear way for members of the Joint Operations Command, a structure that includes, the Army, Police and Central Intelligence.

Cheza pleaded for an order to stop the Minister of Lands Agriculture and Fisheries from evicting him arguing that apart from being lawfully settled, he built green houses at the farm, sunk boreholes, installed a solar power system, has 105 cattle, 136 goats of an expensive breed, 56 sheep and employs 50 workers whose only source of livelihood is the farm.

Cheza was represented by Nyasha Maguranyanga of Mutendi, Mudisi and Shumba Legal Practitioners.

Analysts told The Mirror that the fact that Cheza is the only one being evicted by the Minister points to a disturbing fact that Zanu PF could be weaponizing the Land Act to victimize and harass opponents.

Cheza was arrested and detained for several weeks during the August 2023 elections.

The Constitution says all agricultural land belongs to the State and hence the President. This means the President can withdraw land from anyone anytime including those with title deeds as and when he desires.

"There is no security of land tenure in this country whether one has title deeds or not. The President can gazette any piece of land and evict those settled there, it doesn't matter whether its communal, resettlement or commercial farms.

"In the case of resettlement it is just a question of withdrawing the offer letter and the land is taken over. No one owns land in Zimbabwe, no one has right to land in spite of the fact that people went to war to fight for the land.

"If you get a vindictive party in power the land can be used to harass, victimize and cow opponents.

"In addition corrupt politicians can evict people from their land and give it to those that they like. This is very possible in areas that are close to towns where the demand for land is high," an analyst told The Mirror. Masvingo Mirror