News / National
Chiyangwa, Redcliff Municipality negotiate to settle out of court
07 Jun 2013 at 04:04hrs | Views
CASH-STRAPPED Redcliff Municipality has appealed to Harare businessman Dr Phillip Chiyangwa to settle their long standing land dispute out of court, the Herald reported.
Dr Chiyangwa and Redcliff Town Council have been embroiled in a land row for more than three years after the local authority first backtracked before reversing the land deal which it entered with Pinnacle Holdings, one of Dr Chiyangwa's construction companies.
Pinnacle had purchased 200 hectares of land at $658 000 in 2009.
He paid $375 000 as deposit.
Redcliff Town Council later withdrew the deal after realising that the piece of land which the cash-strapped municipality impulsively gave away to Pinnacle while at the verge of bankruptcy had been sold for a song.
After reversing the deal in 2010, Redcliff Town Council immediately engaged its lawyers as it sought the way forward.
The council then said that it wanted the matter resolved amicably with Dr Chiyangwa who had bailed the municipality at its hour of need.
Dr Chiyangwa also responded through a court application.
Redcliff mayor, Councillor Joseph Matewa, confirmed that the municipality was negotiating for an out of court settlement.
"We have proposed an out of court settlement with Dr Chiyangwa. However, we are still waiting for his response," he said.
Clr Matewa said they were advised by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development to compensate Dr Chiyangwa.
Dr Chiyangwa confirmed that negotiations between him and the MDC-T run Redcliff municipality were smooth going.
He said the matter was likely to be settled out of court if both parties reached a compromise.
"I can confirm that we are negotiating with Redcliff to see if we can make an out of court settlement. However, if the negotiations fail to yield any fruits, I am left with no option but to wait for the High Court judgment," he said.
Dr Chiyangwa insisted that the piece of land at the centre of controversy was still his property. He said he was was not willing to give it away on a silver platter.
He said he rescued Redcliff when they were at the verge of financial quagmire.
"Redcliff municipality officials are inconsistent and unprofessional. I never expected them to reverse the deal after helping them at the hour of need. We have also assisted other local authorities among them Kariba, Victoria Falls and Kadoma," said Dr Chiyangwa.
Dr Chiyangwa and Redcliff Town Council have been embroiled in a land row for more than three years after the local authority first backtracked before reversing the land deal which it entered with Pinnacle Holdings, one of Dr Chiyangwa's construction companies.
Pinnacle had purchased 200 hectares of land at $658 000 in 2009.
He paid $375 000 as deposit.
Redcliff Town Council later withdrew the deal after realising that the piece of land which the cash-strapped municipality impulsively gave away to Pinnacle while at the verge of bankruptcy had been sold for a song.
After reversing the deal in 2010, Redcliff Town Council immediately engaged its lawyers as it sought the way forward.
The council then said that it wanted the matter resolved amicably with Dr Chiyangwa who had bailed the municipality at its hour of need.
Dr Chiyangwa also responded through a court application.
Redcliff mayor, Councillor Joseph Matewa, confirmed that the municipality was negotiating for an out of court settlement.
"We have proposed an out of court settlement with Dr Chiyangwa. However, we are still waiting for his response," he said.
Clr Matewa said they were advised by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development to compensate Dr Chiyangwa.
Dr Chiyangwa confirmed that negotiations between him and the MDC-T run Redcliff municipality were smooth going.
He said the matter was likely to be settled out of court if both parties reached a compromise.
"I can confirm that we are negotiating with Redcliff to see if we can make an out of court settlement. However, if the negotiations fail to yield any fruits, I am left with no option but to wait for the High Court judgment," he said.
Dr Chiyangwa insisted that the piece of land at the centre of controversy was still his property. He said he was was not willing to give it away on a silver platter.
He said he rescued Redcliff when they were at the verge of financial quagmire.
"Redcliff municipality officials are inconsistent and unprofessional. I never expected them to reverse the deal after helping them at the hour of need. We have also assisted other local authorities among them Kariba, Victoria Falls and Kadoma," said Dr Chiyangwa.
Source - chronicle
