Zimbabwean white farmer wins case against 'invaders'

A South African-based businessman has been ordered to vacate an Insiza farm at the centre of a wrangle with a white farmer in a case which has sucked in former Sports minister, Andrew Langa.

The Soundstone Properties (Pvt) Limited and a white farmer Peter Andrew Buckle represented by Vonani Majoko had filed an urgent application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking an order to evict the newly-allocated farmer, Zenzele Sibanda from Blinkbonny Farm.

The applicants cited Sibanda and one Chuma as first and second respondents respectively.

On Saturday Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Martin Makonese ruled in favour of Buckle and his company.

"It is hereby declared that until such a time if at all, the applicants and all those claiming occupation through them will be removed from Blinkbonny Farm by lawful authority, that applicants are entitled to remain in peaceful and undisturbed occupation of Blinkbonny Farm," Makonese ruled.

"First and second respondents pay costs of this application on the scale as between legal practitioner and client."

Makonese also upheld the matter as urgent and the normal rules and time frames relating to notice and time limits were dispensed with.

"The 1st and 2nd respondents and all persons claiming occupation of Blinkbonny Farm in Insiza district be and are hereby ordered to immediately and on service of this order and supporting application to return to the applicants vacant possession of Blinkbonny Farm," Justice Makonese said in the order.

Sibanda and his accomplices were also ordered to remove all their animals, return all property, including locks and prohibited from interfering with lawful operations at the farm.

"In the event that after 24 hours of service of this application respondents and those claiming occupation through them will not have given vacant possession to applicants in terms of this order, the deputy Sheriff be and is hereby directed and authorised by virtue of this order to if he deems it necessary with the assistance of the members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police from whatever police station, remove and evict the respondents, their cattle, dogs and all persons claiming occupation of the Blinkbonny Farm," Makonese added.

Sibanda's eviction order comes soon after his urgent application for the eviction of the white farmer from the farm was dismissed by the High Court on the grounds that it was not urgent since the wrangle started in 2012.

In his urgent application Sibanda had cited Peter J Buckle, Peter A Buckle and Zanu-PF Insiza North MP Langa as first to third respondents respectively, seeking for a spoliation order.

Sibanda had sought the eviction of Buckle and those claiming occupation of the farm under him, arguing it had been allocated to him in 2012 under the land reform programme.