Government has resolved the ownership dispute of a portion
of Farfell Coffee Estate in Chipinge involving Messrs Richard Le Vieux and
Remembrance Mbudzana to enable continued commercial production of the crop at
the farm in the hands of the former.
Cabinet made the decision at its sitting on May 28,
reflecting President Mnangagwa’s pragmatic and pro-business approah in his
administration, that has also been his hallmark in the last two decades when he
has made timely interventons to protect businesses from rent-seeking behaviour
and opportunism in the name of expropriation.
Acting Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and
Rural Resettlement Oppah Muchinguri announced the Cabinet’s decision in a
statement recently.
Mr Mbudzana had been offered a portion of the estate (Lot
1) but after considering the investments and production currently taking place
on that portion of the farm, Government decided to revoke the offer letter and
find him alternative land.
“After taking all factors into consideration, Cabinet
resolved and directed as follows (a) that Mr Le Vieux be issued with an offer
letter for his portion of Farfell Coffee Estates, that is Lot 2 (220 hactares)
in keeping with the Government framework of maximum farm sizes (b) that if he
so wishes, Mr Le Vieux be issued with an appropriate lease agreement with
respect to Lot 1, so as to guarantee continuity of the very productive and
strategic commercial operations currently taking place at Lot 1; (c) that the
offer letter of Lot 1 (229 hectares) to Mr Mbudzana be consequently revoked;
and (d) that as, any Zimbabwean, Mr Mbudzana can be considered for land
allocation in other available areas in Chipinge District,” Minister Muchinguri
said.
Mr Le Vieux expressed satisfaction with Government’s
decision.
“The last few months there has been some confusion as to
the correct title and tenure of this land by the company and I am happy to say
this has been dealt with effectively by Cabinet, by the President and it sends
a positive message to all who are producing and exporting in the country that
we cannot have disruptions, that we cannot (promote) instability and that we
cannot have opportunistic seizures of assets which is what was going on in my
case.
“What you see here is a 25-year investment, it doesn’t
happen overnight and it’s not easy,” Mr Le Vieux said.
The land in question (Lot 1) was initially offered to Chief
Mapungwana in 2009 while Mr Le Vieux remained with the remainder (Lot 2).
“However, it later came to the notice of the Ministry of
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement that Chief Mapungwana
never took occupation of or utilised Lot 1,” Minister Muchinguri said.
“Instead, he allegedly sold that land to Mr Le Vieux who
proceeded to invest heavily and is currently undertaking some productive
activities on Lot 1. The ministry then duly revoked the offer letter to Chief
Mapungwana in terms of Government policy.”
Minister Muchinguri added that the purported sale of the
land was also illegal as ownership of all farmland was vested in the State as
required by law.
Apart from coffee Mr Le Vieux is also into avocado and
macadamia nuts production.
President Mnangagwa has reiterated that focus should be on
productivity adding that resettlement would be done in terms of the law. Herald
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