FORMER Finance deputy minister Terrence Mukupe is embroiled
in a land wrangle in which he is seeking to evict resettled farmers at Mt
Olympus Farm in Goromonzi.
The former Harare East legislator, who is reportedly behind
Farmtel Investments, has since written to about seven farmers, through his
lawyers Mangwana and Partners, ordering them to vacate the land.
According to a letter to one of the affected farmers gleaned
by this paper, Farmtel claims that it was given the farm in 2016 by the Local
Government ministry.
“We represent Farmtel Investments (Pvt) Ltd, kindly note
our interests. Our instructions are to the effect that you are in unlawful
occupation of a plot, Mt Olympus Farm Chishawasha B. The said plot is under the
control of our client, who was allocated and given developmental rights to same
by the Ministry of Local Government in 2016. Your continued presence has
hindered progress and the execution of the agreement between our client and the
Ministry of Local Government,” the letter read.
Mukupe yesterday directed NewsDay to seek comment from
Farmtel management.
“Is there my name on the letters? Just talk to Farmtel, not
Mukupe. Speak to the CEO of Farmtel. The guys at Mangwana will direct you to
the guys at Farmtel,” he said.
NewsDay has been reliably informed that the farmers, who
are in possession of offer letters, have since approached the Zimbabwe Lands
Commission, which responded by summoning Mukupe for a hearing and clarification
on the issue.
According to a letter dated March 28, addressed to Mukupe
and signed by the commission’s assistant manager (legal services), one S
Zimucha and gleaned by this paper, the former minister was summoned to give his
side of the story concerning the farm wrangle.
“We are in receipt of a land dispute lodged by Mt Olympus
farmers against you in connection with the above mentioned farm. According to
our procedure, and as part of our investigations, we request that you furnish
us with a response outlining your due claim of entitlement to the said farm as
information constituting your side of the story within seven days of these
summons,” the summons read.
NewsDay is reliably informed that there is contention on the
location of the farm that is currently listed in Mashonaland East province,
while Mukupe was allocated the land under Harare province.
The farm is located in Chishawasha, where most of the land
is being turned into residential stands.
“The problem is that the farmers who were already in the
area before government, through (former Local Government minister Saviour)
Kasukuwere, had the land transferred to them for urban development from the
Lands and Rural Settlement ministry. The farmers have nowhere to go. There is
no alternative land for them, let alone talking about compensation,” a source
said.
In 2016, former President Robert Mugabe fumed at
Kasukuwere, accusing him of illegally parcelling out land to his cronies.
According to government documents, in 2016 Mukupe’s
company, Farmtel Investments, was given 100ha in Chishawasha B, with other
companies reportedly belonging to heavyweights like Nettfields Investments
(Pvt) Ltd and Mahlaba (Pvt) Ltd and Elephant Trust also getting a piece of the
2 848,77ha farm which lies along Arcturus Road.
Former Zanu PF youth league boss Kudzanayi Chipanga was
also one of the beneficiaries.Newsday
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