FORMER Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere has
approached the High Court seeking to evict a group of people, who invaded his
farm in Mazowe on May 6, this year.
In the application, Kasukuwere and Sea Flower Investments
(Private) Limited, cited Efanos Mudzimunyi, Kudakwashe Moyana, Kenneth
Mudzimunyi and Akim Mudzimunyi, as respondents.
In his court affidavit, Kasukuwere told the court that he
was offered occupancy of Corncorpia Farm in Mazowe in September 2002 in terms
of the Agricultural Land Settlement Act. He said since then he had been in
peaceful occupation of the farm, adding that Lands minister Perrance Shiri had
tried but failed to withdraw his offer letter.
“Unexpectedly and on May 6, 2020, the respondents came and
invaded the farm. They have forcibly settled on the farm. They resisted the
security personnel on the farm and threatened my farm workers with unspecified
action as well as violence. They had brought some property on the farm and have
started to invade my fields and reaping my crops.
“Their settlement on the farm and their activities thereon
are against my will. They have no right to occupation of my farm and no right
to interfere with my farming activities or conduct any farming activities on
the farm,” Kasukuwere said.
He said the farm is State property and was allocated to him
under the land reform programme. He said occupancy of the farm, can only be
sanctioned by him or by the Lands minister.
“The respondents have invaded my farm. They have no lawful
right to be on the farm. In addition, they did not utilise any lawful means to
dispossess me of the parts of the farm they have invaded. They have taken the
law into their own hands. Their actions have resulted in the subtraction of my
dominion over the farm, which dominion is sanctioned by the State by virtue of
my valid offer letter,” the former minister said.
He said if the application was not granted in his favour,
he would continue to lose some of the crops to the illegal activities.
Kasukuwere is now seeking an order declaring the
respondents’ actions unlawful and an order for him to retain sole ownership and
control of the farm.
“I also seek consequential relief ordering the respondents
and all those claiming occupation through them to vacate the farm within 48
hours of this order, failing which the Sheriff is directed to eject them from
the farm,” he said.
The matter is still
pending before the court. Daily News
0 comments:
Post a Comment