News / National
Traditional leaders fight over white farmer
19 Jan 2013 at 10:53hrs | Views
HEADMAN Chadworthy Chikwanda and his village head, Ernest Chirau are at each other's throats over a piece of land occupied by farmer, Ullic Westerman.
Village head Chirau lodged an appeal with the Chipinge Civil Court, seeking the eviction of Westerman from his homestead in Chitekete Village which he claims is under his jurisdiction.
However, Headman Chikwanda wants Westerman to stay. Village head Chirau who is under Headman Chikwanda alleged that Westerman has been living in Chirau Village illegally as he was not allocated land by the responsible traditional leader.
However, Headman Chikwanda told the court that in 1987, Westerman came to his area looking for a place to build his homestead and in return offered to help the locals with agricultural expertise.
"Headman Zvoushe Chikwanda who was in power gave him the piece of land, which was lying idle in Chitekete Village under Headman Chikukwa close to the headman's kraal and not in Chirau.
"Since then, Westerman has been staying there and has developed the place and to say he must leave 25 years later is just ridiculous because he has developed his piece of land building a house valued at $20 000.
"Claims by Village head Chirau are inappropriate as the defendant occupied an idle land, which no one has claims over it," Headman Chikwanda told the court.
Village head Chirau's legal counsel, Mr Langton Mhungu, insisted that Westerman was staying in his client's area illegally as he was not part of the village register that he produced before the courts.
Mr Mhungu said Westerman built his homestead where the late Village head Garden Chirau lived in Chirau area nicknamed Chitekete as the latter name does not exist on the map, a fact dismissed by Headman Chikwanda who maintained that Westerman was allocated a no man's land in Chitekete Village under Funny Chikukwa.
However, Westernan's legal counsel, Mr Tawanda Tandi of Kentor and Immerman said the map was inaccurate as not all the villages were highlighted.
"Headman Chikwanda has confirmed that there is a village called Jongwe, which in spite of being popular is not highlighted accordingly, hence the absence of Chitekete on the map cannot be the basis for dismissing its existence because it exists and is different from Chirau and that is where my client stays," said Mr Tandi.
Mr Makamera Waini who heard the matter adjourned it to today.
Village head Chirau lodged an appeal with the Chipinge Civil Court, seeking the eviction of Westerman from his homestead in Chitekete Village which he claims is under his jurisdiction.
However, Headman Chikwanda wants Westerman to stay. Village head Chirau who is under Headman Chikwanda alleged that Westerman has been living in Chirau Village illegally as he was not allocated land by the responsible traditional leader.
However, Headman Chikwanda told the court that in 1987, Westerman came to his area looking for a place to build his homestead and in return offered to help the locals with agricultural expertise.
"Headman Zvoushe Chikwanda who was in power gave him the piece of land, which was lying idle in Chitekete Village under Headman Chikukwa close to the headman's kraal and not in Chirau.
"Since then, Westerman has been staying there and has developed the place and to say he must leave 25 years later is just ridiculous because he has developed his piece of land building a house valued at $20 000.
Village head Chirau's legal counsel, Mr Langton Mhungu, insisted that Westerman was staying in his client's area illegally as he was not part of the village register that he produced before the courts.
Mr Mhungu said Westerman built his homestead where the late Village head Garden Chirau lived in Chirau area nicknamed Chitekete as the latter name does not exist on the map, a fact dismissed by Headman Chikwanda who maintained that Westerman was allocated a no man's land in Chitekete Village under Funny Chikukwa.
However, Westernan's legal counsel, Mr Tawanda Tandi of Kentor and Immerman said the map was inaccurate as not all the villages were highlighted.
"Headman Chikwanda has confirmed that there is a village called Jongwe, which in spite of being popular is not highlighted accordingly, hence the absence of Chitekete on the map cannot be the basis for dismissing its existence because it exists and is different from Chirau and that is where my client stays," said Mr Tandi.
Mr Makamera Waini who heard the matter adjourned it to today.
Source - MP
