Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba is
embroiled in a land dispute with Mutasa villagers whom she is accusing of
occupying her farm.
The villagers appeared before a Mutasa magistrate court
yesterday facing charges of occupying a gazetted piece of land without
authority.
Representatives of the villagers, Betty Rongai, Nelson
Mukuchu, Cosmas Nyawasha and Bernard Hondo are denying the allegations.
The villagers, who are being represented by Chris Ndlovu
from Gonese and Ndlovu legal practitioners, were remanded out of custody to
November 2, by magistrate Innocent Bepura.
The complainant in the matter is the State represented by
Brighton Mukupe from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and
Rural Settlement.
It is the State’s case that on July 29 , 2004, Gwaradzimba
was allocated Subdivision 1 and 2 of Inonzi Extension by then Presidential
Affairs minister responsible for land, Didymus Mutasa.
The State allege that from 2014 to date, the accused
persons without a lease, permit or offer letter issued by the government,
occupied the land, disrupting farming activities.
The villagers were on several occasions ordered by the
Ministry of Lands to vacate the land but they resisted. Newsday
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