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Zanu-PF activists ordered off invaded farm
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Thomas Chidzomba, the Zanu-PF losing candidate for the Chinhoyi constituency in the August 2023 elections, has been ordered to vacate a farm he allegedly invaded along with three other party members. Chidzomba, together with Elington Chanetsa, Bruno Elias, and Norbert Mawere, reportedly took over subdivision 1 of Manenga Dundrennam Farm in Lions' Den, Chinhoyi, dividing the 578.54-hectare property among themselves.
The farm, owned by D B Bosman, was officially confirmed as Bosman's bona fide property by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development. In a letter dated June 6, 2025, secretary Obert Jiri affirmed Bosman's ownership and ordered the alleged invaders to leave.
"This letter serves to confirm that D B Bosman, ID 70-084879 Q 00, is the bona fide beneficiary of S/D 1 of RE of Dandrennan of Manengas in Makonde district, Mashonaland West with 578.54 hectares in extent," Jiri wrote. "The farmer was allocated the plot on 30 September 2004."
Following the ministerial directive, Makonde district lands official Wilson Muchenje formally advised Chidzomba and his associates to vacate the farm immediately, stating that the cancellation of Chidzomba's power of attorney meant he no longer had any legal claim to the land. "He must move away immediately from this piece of land and the Department of Land Management will try to find land for him somewhere," Muchenje said.
The dispute dates back to April 5, 2025, when Chidzomba and his colleagues allegedly invaded the property. The matter was initially brought before Chinhoyi magistrate Kudzai Kapurura, but the State withdrew the case on May 16 after a plea. Chidzomba's lawyer, Tungamirai Chamutsa, argued that his client held a power of attorney from former deputy minister Kindness Paradza, who has since withdrawn the authority amid ongoing investigations.
Following the withdrawal, Bosman wrote to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) alleging misconduct in how the case was handled, accusing the prosecutor of deliberately withholding certified documents and failing to disclose the withdrawal of Paradza's power of attorney, thus favouring the accused. District public prosecutor Herald Matura defended the prosecuting team, pledging to uphold impartiality.
Bosman is also contending with allegations that he was involved in the death of a 12-year-old boy, Saurance Moffat, who was reportedly run over by a combine harvester on his farm in 2022. Bosman denies the claim, calling it a political tactic by the farm invaders to justify their actions.
"The farm invaders are bringing up the closed murder case to intimidate me so that I don't fight for my farm," Bosman said.
The murder case was officially closed in 2024 after investigations established that the boy had not been run over by a tractor, under case number CHN/CD/1983/24.
The land dispute remains a flashpoint in Chinhoyi, underscoring ongoing tensions between lawful landowners and political figures accused of illegal farm invasions.
The farm, owned by D B Bosman, was officially confirmed as Bosman's bona fide property by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development. In a letter dated June 6, 2025, secretary Obert Jiri affirmed Bosman's ownership and ordered the alleged invaders to leave.
"This letter serves to confirm that D B Bosman, ID 70-084879 Q 00, is the bona fide beneficiary of S/D 1 of RE of Dandrennan of Manengas in Makonde district, Mashonaland West with 578.54 hectares in extent," Jiri wrote. "The farmer was allocated the plot on 30 September 2004."
Following the ministerial directive, Makonde district lands official Wilson Muchenje formally advised Chidzomba and his associates to vacate the farm immediately, stating that the cancellation of Chidzomba's power of attorney meant he no longer had any legal claim to the land. "He must move away immediately from this piece of land and the Department of Land Management will try to find land for him somewhere," Muchenje said.
The dispute dates back to April 5, 2025, when Chidzomba and his colleagues allegedly invaded the property. The matter was initially brought before Chinhoyi magistrate Kudzai Kapurura, but the State withdrew the case on May 16 after a plea. Chidzomba's lawyer, Tungamirai Chamutsa, argued that his client held a power of attorney from former deputy minister Kindness Paradza, who has since withdrawn the authority amid ongoing investigations.
Following the withdrawal, Bosman wrote to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) alleging misconduct in how the case was handled, accusing the prosecutor of deliberately withholding certified documents and failing to disclose the withdrawal of Paradza's power of attorney, thus favouring the accused. District public prosecutor Herald Matura defended the prosecuting team, pledging to uphold impartiality.
Bosman is also contending with allegations that he was involved in the death of a 12-year-old boy, Saurance Moffat, who was reportedly run over by a combine harvester on his farm in 2022. Bosman denies the claim, calling it a political tactic by the farm invaders to justify their actions.
"The farm invaders are bringing up the closed murder case to intimidate me so that I don't fight for my farm," Bosman said.
The murder case was officially closed in 2024 after investigations established that the boy had not been run over by a tractor, under case number CHN/CD/1983/24.
The land dispute remains a flashpoint in Chinhoyi, underscoring ongoing tensions between lawful landowners and political figures accused of illegal farm invasions.
Source - NewsDay
