Masvingo, Zimbabwe – A tense legal battle is unfolding in the Masvingo High Court as Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira, faces accusations of unlawfully seizing land belonging to a local widow to construct his private school. The case, which has drawn significant public attention, was brought before Justice Helena Charewa for a Pre-Trial Conference yesterday.
The applicant, a widow identified as Farai Mutsetse Mazenge, claims that Minister Chadzamira forcibly encroached onto her property in the Morningside suburb of Masvingo in 2024 and commenced building a private educational institution. Ms. Mutsetse asserts that she legally acquired the land in 2009 and has resided there since, maintaining a home and keeping livestock.
According to court documents, Ms. Mutsetse possesses evidence of her ownership, including water bills, rates, and service and sewer charge receipts spanning the past 16 years. She alleges that crucial documents related to her property mysteriously disappeared from the Masvingo City Council’s files, but fortunately, she had retained copies.
In her application, Ms. Mutsetse is seeking a court order to halt further construction on her land and to immediately evict Minister Chadzamira from the premises. The respondents in the case include Minister Chadzamira himself, the Masvingo City Council, the city’s Housing Director, and the Minister of Local Government and Public Works.
Justice Charewa adjourned the proceedings, noting that all concerned parties had not filed their papers correctly. A postponement was granted until May 15, 2025, to allow the parties to rectify the procedural deficiencies.
This is not the first time Minister Chadzamira has been embroiled in land disputes. Reports indicate that he was previously accused of seizing a mansion and a farm, Cresta Ibeka, from another widow, Yvonne Goddard, leaving her homeless.
The Masvingo City Council’s role in the current dispute is also under scrutiny. Ms. Mutsetse’s court papers reveal that the council had initially failed to respond within the stipulated timeframe. However, Justice Sunsley Zisengwe recently granted the council an extension to file its responding papers. Minister Chadzamira reportedly claims to have acquired the land in question from the Ministry of Local Government.
The case has ignited concerns about the abuse of power and land rights in Zimbabwe, particularly concerning the vulnerability of widows. This incident echoes previous reports highlighting the challenges faced by widows in the country, who are sometimes dispossessed of their homes and land upon the death of their husbands.
The upcoming court hearing on May 15th is expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the land dispute and the validity of Minister Chadzamira’s claims. The outcome of this case will be closely watched and could have broader implications for property rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
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