News / Regional
Chaotic land reform, 1 farm given to 10 different individuals
10 Feb 2014 at 10:03hrs | Views
A land dispute is raging in Umguza district, Matabeleland North, where the Ministry of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement reportedly issued offer letters for one farm to 10 different individuals, a court heard on Friday.
This was revealed during a hearing of the matter between the Ministry of Lands and nine others versus Hilda's Kraal farm (Pvt) (Ltd), represented by Herbert Ncube, the second respondent, before Justice Nokuthula Moyo at the High Court.
The nine farmers produced letters for the farm which they received from the responsible ministry and dated November 28 2006 as evidence in court.
Ncube's offer letter for the farm, dated July 30 2013 and obtained from the same ministry, was also produced in court.
Justice Moyo said the dispute was a sign of chaos at the Ministry of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, stating that an official from the ministry should be called to testify and clarify the issue in court.
"The ministry had initially given the land to the nine applicants, then later rescinded the decision and re-allocated the land to the first and second respondents.
"How do you evict any one of them if all the entities have been given offer letters to the same piece of land?" queried Moyo.
"There is chaos at the ministry of Lands. An official from the ministry should take the stand and testify."
The lawyer representing Hilda's Kraal Farm, Mlamuli Ncube of Cheda and partners, requested the court to issue a directive for a ministry official to testify in court to confirm that the applicants were indeed evicted from the farm when the respondent was given an offer letter in July last year.
Last month Justice Maphios Cheda ordered the Deputy Sheriff to evict the nine respondents from Hilda's Kraal farm after they defaulted court on January 18.
On Friday, Moyo rescinded the ruling after the respondents gave justifiable proof that the court sheriff had not served them with summons.
The applicants were, however, ordered to file their applications with the court within 10 days.
This was revealed during a hearing of the matter between the Ministry of Lands and nine others versus Hilda's Kraal farm (Pvt) (Ltd), represented by Herbert Ncube, the second respondent, before Justice Nokuthula Moyo at the High Court.
The nine farmers produced letters for the farm which they received from the responsible ministry and dated November 28 2006 as evidence in court.
Ncube's offer letter for the farm, dated July 30 2013 and obtained from the same ministry, was also produced in court.
Justice Moyo said the dispute was a sign of chaos at the Ministry of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, stating that an official from the ministry should be called to testify and clarify the issue in court.
"The ministry had initially given the land to the nine applicants, then later rescinded the decision and re-allocated the land to the first and second respondents.
"How do you evict any one of them if all the entities have been given offer letters to the same piece of land?" queried Moyo.
"There is chaos at the ministry of Lands. An official from the ministry should take the stand and testify."
The lawyer representing Hilda's Kraal Farm, Mlamuli Ncube of Cheda and partners, requested the court to issue a directive for a ministry official to testify in court to confirm that the applicants were indeed evicted from the farm when the respondent was given an offer letter in July last year.
Last month Justice Maphios Cheda ordered the Deputy Sheriff to evict the nine respondents from Hilda's Kraal farm after they defaulted court on January 18.
On Friday, Moyo rescinded the ruling after the respondents gave justifiable proof that the court sheriff had not served them with summons.
The applicants were, however, ordered to file their applications with the court within 10 days.
Source - zimmail
