FORMER President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace, along
with their family business, Gushungo Holdings have been evicted from a Mazowe
farm following an application by three farmers who were claiming ownership of
the land.
Adonia Makombe, Sahungwe Hungwe and Nyika Chifamba issued
summons at the High Court against Mugabe in June last year, seeking his
eviction from Lot 1A Teviotdale Farm in Mazowe district of Mashonaland Central
province.
The three argued that they were holders of offer letters
for the land, which they grabbed at the height of the land reform programme in
2000.
But, Mugabe and his wife challenged the farmers’ assertion,
arguing the letters were not an entitlement to the land and that they had no
right to demand the eviction over land for which they themselves had no lawful
authority to use, possess or occupy.
Mugabe argued that only the Lands, Agriculture and Rural
Resettlement minister could exercise that right, but High Court judge Justice
Helena Charehwa ruled in favour of the farmers and ordered the former President
off the land.
In their application, the three cited Mugabe, Grace,
Gushungo Holdings, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Lands, Agriculture
and Rural Resettlement and Home Affairs ministers Perrance Shiri and Cain
Mathema and police chief superintendents only identified as Nhubu and Kunene,
as respondents.
“It is ordered that an order be and is hereby made against
fourth to eighth defendants in terms of R182 (ii) for (1) the restoration of
possession of sub-division 1, 2 and 3 of Lot A of Teviotdale Farm, Mazowe
district to first, second and third respondents (Makombe, Hungwe and Chifamba)
respectively.
The judge also ordered the “eviction of all persons
claiming occupation through fifth defendant (Lands minister) of sub-division 1,
2 and 3 of Lot A of Teviotdale Farm, Mazowe district Mashonaland Central
Province” plus payment of costs on a higher scale.
However, soon after being evicted from the piece of land,
Mugabe, Grace and Gushungo Holdings filed an appeal at the Supreme Court on
February 15, 2019 challenging Justice Charehwa’s order and the matter is yet to
be set down for hearing.
On February 18, the farmers also filed an urgent chamber
application seeking an order for executing their judgment pending Mugabe’s
appeal and the matter is also yet to be set down for hearing.
Meanwhile, Gushungo Holdings is reportedly on the verge of
collapse after it emerged that the company was struggling to keep afloat and
was failing to pay workers’ salaries since September last year.
According to one of the workers’ leaders, a Dr Elson Sweva,
Gushungo Holdings owes workers substantial amounts of money in salaries and
commission.
Sweva said the situation worsened when the company reduced
salaries without the workers’ consent.
“Things have not been going on well since March last year,
but the situation became worse after our salaries were reduced from $250 to
$100 in September,” Sweva said.
He said the company stopped paying commission last year as
it was experiencing high product returns.
He said most workers received a two months’ salary of $196
following a meeting held on February 1.
“Following a meeting on February 1, we were given two
month’s salary totalling $196 and, surely, what would one do with that amount
in this economy? Even housemaids are paid better salaries,” Sweva added.
But Gushungo Holdings managing director, Lameck Chinoera
said the company does not owe workers outstanding dues, claiming that it was
the other way round because some employees were still to repay advanced loans.
“We don’t have anyone who is owed a salary. Those who work
for commission are paid for what they would have worked for. It’s not for the
company to give people extra commission, it’s calculated. I have a payroll
indicating that some people actually have loans,” said Chinoera.
On the viability of the company, Chinoera said they were
being affected by foreign currency shortages like any other business in the
country.
“We might have closed down one or two products on account
of shortages of forex like most companies, but we are actually working on two
shifts,” he said.
Sources said Gushungo Holdings reduced its workforce by
half since March last year and has been hit by resignations of key personnel.
Last year, Grace told 106 workers at Gwina Farm in Banket
that she was not going to pay them terminal benefits even if they went to
court.
Gwina Farm was reportedly grabbed by Grace from Supreme
Court judge Justice Ben Hlatshwayo, who was then allocated another land.
According to reports, the former First Family owns over 10
farms in the country. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment