Attempts to stop Mazowe farm evictions to make way for Grace Mugabe

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has approached the High Court on behalf of 8 Mazowe villagers to interdict Ministry of Lands, Home Affairs Minisster Ignatius Chombo and Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri from evicting villagers.

Last week, NewsDay reported that First Lady Grace Mugabe had renewed her bid to evict villagers at Arnold Farm in Mazowe to expand her business empire following disclosures that the Lands ministry officials started parcelling the farm to pave way for the First Family.

In 2014, the courts stopped the evictions when Grace took over the adjacent Manzou Farm and turned it into a game sanctuary until the government provided alternative land to settle the villagers who took control of the farm at the height of the farm invasions in 2000.

Speaking to the State owned Herald, Mashonaland Central provincial minister Martin Dinha confirmed Mugabe's interest in the farm but dismissed NewsDay's report that she was grabbing the farm. Dinha said Grace had been given the land because of the charity work she is doing in the area.