OWNERS of Harvest House, a multi-storey building in central
Harare also known as Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, previously used by MDC
Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa as his party headquarters, have given the
beleaguered opposition authority to continue using the property as the
ownership wrangle takes centre stage.
This came after the Thokozani Khupe-led opposition took
control of the property on the strength of a recent Supreme Court ruling which
recognised her as the legitimate acting leader of the MDC-T following the death
of party founder Morgan Tsvangirai in February 2018.
The directors of the building have since come out saying
they were the owners, adding that Chamisa had the right of occupation and not
anyone else.
“Harvest House (Pvt) Ltd owns a certain piece of land
situated in the district of Salisbury called Stand 854 Salisbury Lands
measuring 892 square metres, together with all buildings and improvements there
on known as Harvest House, 44 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare (the property).
“None of the MDC formations, by whatever name or
description own the property,” wrote one of the directors Ian Muteto Makone, in
a letter dated June 5, 2020.
The MDC Alliance, since formation, Makone said, had enjoyed
uninterrupted occupation of the disputed property with the permission and
blessing of the company.
He added, “The MDC Alliance does not own the property, it
is in occupation with the permission and blessing of the company. “The company
expects that its property rights will be respected. It reserves its rights in
this regard.”
Another co-director of the building, Timothy James Neil
also supported the claim saying, “I confirm that, as the rightful authority of
Harvest House also known as Morgan Tsvangirai House the rightful occupants are
the MDC Alliance.”
On June 5, 2020, MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora
confirmed the takeover in a memo, adding that all party business would from
then be run from Harvest House.
The MDC-T had also recalled four of Chamisa’s legislators
accusing them of defying Khupe, but the High Court overturned the matter and
provisionally barred the former Deputy Prime Minister from purging her rival’s
elected officials.
MDC Alliance councillors have also written to Local
Government minister July Moyo pleading with him to stop recalling them on the
strength of directives from Khupe’s faction.
“Our clients advise us that Douglas Togaraseyi Mwonzora,
Thokozani Khupe and an entity called the MDC-T have threatened to recall
certain councillors elected under the banner of the MDC Alliance pursuant to
the elections held on July 30, 2018,” party lawyers Mbidzo, Muchadehama and
Makoni, said in letter dated June 1, 2020.
“Our clients advise us that Douglas Mwonzora, Thokozani
Khupe and the MDC-T have no power and authority to recall the said
councillors.” Newsday
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