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Mnangagwa under fire over controversial land to Rautenbach
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President Emmerson Mnangagwa is facing mounting criticism after it emerged that his close business associate, Muller Conrad "Billy" Rautenbach, is receiving over 1,000 hectares of productive farmland as compensation for a property he never legally owned—sparking allegations of corruption, deception, and betrayal of war veterans and indigenous farmers.
Farmers at Springs Farm and the adjacent Stuhm Farm in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East Province, are being forcibly evicted by government authorities to pave way for an urban development project by Rautenbach. The evictions have stunned the affected communities, which include Zimbabwe's current Young Farmer of the Year and a number of war veterans who were legally settled on the land.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, in a letter dated 14 March 2025, confirmed the state had awarded Rautenbach's company, Marimba Residential Properties, a total of 1,083 hectares of farmland—671 hectares at Springs and 412 hectares at Stuhm. This was allegedly to compensate him for a failed attempt to take over Aspindale Park land in Harare, despite a 2019 High Court ruling confirming he had no legal claim to that land.
Court documents reveal that Rautenbach's companies were not registered at the time they laid claim to the 180 hectares in Aspindale Park, which had already been allocated in 2004 to housing cooperatives such as Joshua Nkomo, Wadzanai, and Leopold Takawira for urban development. The High Court dismissed his claim in 2019, declaring the government's attempt to withdraw the land from the cooperatives "null and void."
Despite this, Mnangagwa instructed Lands Minister Anxious Masuka to compensate Rautenbach—raising serious questions about abuse of office and misappropriation of public land.
The displaced farmers, many of whom have invested heavily in the development of the land over the past two decades, have denounced the move as unjust and corrupt. In a letter addressed to War Veterans Minister Monica Mavhunga, they lamented the loss of homes, schools, irrigation systems, livestock, and joint venture projects—some of which were supported by the state.
"We have developed this land for 23 years and built livelihoods here," the farmers wrote. "Now it's being taken from us to enrich one man, who lost nothing."
They also highlighted the irony of being evicted to compensate a businessman who had, in fact, developed a separate 55-hectare section of Aspindale Park without dispute—Aspire Heights, launched by Mnangagwa himself in February 2023.
Adding to the controversy is the revelation that part of the land now allocated to Rautenbach at Stuhm Farm had already been leased to Members of Parliament under the eighth parliament in 2019, with formal agreements processed by the Ministry of Local Government. Those MPs now find themselves dispossessed without explanation.
The unfolding scandal is being seen as a major test of the government's commitment to property rights, constitutionalism, and transparency. Critics say it exposes a deeper pattern of state-sanctioned land grabs and systemic corruption at the highest levels.
"This is no longer just a land dispute," said a war veteran from the area who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It's a betrayal of everything we fought for. Independence meant land for the people—not just for the President's cronies."
Rautenbach, a multimillionaire with interests in mining, energy, transport and real estate, is a long-time ally of Mnangagwa. His ability to navigate high-level political corridors has frequently drawn accusations of undue influence and preferential treatment.
The episode has also cast doubt on Mnangagwa's newly launched Title Deeds programme, which the government claims is aimed at resolving land ownership issues. Observers warn that the Springs-Stuhm land compensation saga could undermine the credibility of the entire initiative.
As the evictions proceed and outrage grows, civil society organisations, legal watchdogs and affected communities are calling for an independent investigation into the affair. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have described the situation as a textbook case of unjust enrichment and abuse of power.
For many of the displaced, the stakes are existential.
"We sacrificed everything for this land—now it's being handed over to one man who already has too much," said one farmer. "This is not the Zimbabwe we dreamed of."
Farmers at Springs Farm and the adjacent Stuhm Farm in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East Province, are being forcibly evicted by government authorities to pave way for an urban development project by Rautenbach. The evictions have stunned the affected communities, which include Zimbabwe's current Young Farmer of the Year and a number of war veterans who were legally settled on the land.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, in a letter dated 14 March 2025, confirmed the state had awarded Rautenbach's company, Marimba Residential Properties, a total of 1,083 hectares of farmland—671 hectares at Springs and 412 hectares at Stuhm. This was allegedly to compensate him for a failed attempt to take over Aspindale Park land in Harare, despite a 2019 High Court ruling confirming he had no legal claim to that land.
Court documents reveal that Rautenbach's companies were not registered at the time they laid claim to the 180 hectares in Aspindale Park, which had already been allocated in 2004 to housing cooperatives such as Joshua Nkomo, Wadzanai, and Leopold Takawira for urban development. The High Court dismissed his claim in 2019, declaring the government's attempt to withdraw the land from the cooperatives "null and void."
Despite this, Mnangagwa instructed Lands Minister Anxious Masuka to compensate Rautenbach—raising serious questions about abuse of office and misappropriation of public land.
The displaced farmers, many of whom have invested heavily in the development of the land over the past two decades, have denounced the move as unjust and corrupt. In a letter addressed to War Veterans Minister Monica Mavhunga, they lamented the loss of homes, schools, irrigation systems, livestock, and joint venture projects—some of which were supported by the state.
"We have developed this land for 23 years and built livelihoods here," the farmers wrote. "Now it's being taken from us to enrich one man, who lost nothing."
They also highlighted the irony of being evicted to compensate a businessman who had, in fact, developed a separate 55-hectare section of Aspindale Park without dispute—Aspire Heights, launched by Mnangagwa himself in February 2023.
Adding to the controversy is the revelation that part of the land now allocated to Rautenbach at Stuhm Farm had already been leased to Members of Parliament under the eighth parliament in 2019, with formal agreements processed by the Ministry of Local Government. Those MPs now find themselves dispossessed without explanation.
The unfolding scandal is being seen as a major test of the government's commitment to property rights, constitutionalism, and transparency. Critics say it exposes a deeper pattern of state-sanctioned land grabs and systemic corruption at the highest levels.
"This is no longer just a land dispute," said a war veteran from the area who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It's a betrayal of everything we fought for. Independence meant land for the people—not just for the President's cronies."
Rautenbach, a multimillionaire with interests in mining, energy, transport and real estate, is a long-time ally of Mnangagwa. His ability to navigate high-level political corridors has frequently drawn accusations of undue influence and preferential treatment.
The episode has also cast doubt on Mnangagwa's newly launched Title Deeds programme, which the government claims is aimed at resolving land ownership issues. Observers warn that the Springs-Stuhm land compensation saga could undermine the credibility of the entire initiative.
As the evictions proceed and outrage grows, civil society organisations, legal watchdogs and affected communities are calling for an independent investigation into the affair. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have described the situation as a textbook case of unjust enrichment and abuse of power.
For many of the displaced, the stakes are existential.
"We sacrificed everything for this land—now it's being handed over to one man who already has too much," said one farmer. "This is not the Zimbabwe we dreamed of."
Source - online
