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Ex-MPs turn screws on Zanu-PF-linked tycoon
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Former Members of Parliament have launched a legal fight against businessman Muller Conrad "Billy" Rautenbach, accusing him of seizing land in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East, that had been allocated to them as part of their service benefits.
The contested property, Stuhm Farm, was sold to the legislators in 2019 under a parliamentary scheme that provided housing stands to former lawmakers. Beneficiaries formed the Stuhm Residents Association, which is now challenging the transfer of the land to Rautenbach under circumstances they describe as murky. The case is before the High Court, with constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku representing the group.
Association secretary and former opposition legislator Trevor Saruwaka confirmed that the matter has also been referred to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for investigation. He said the ex-MPs had paid for their stands and Parliament had even covered surveying costs in 2021 and 2022, which were approved by the surveyor general.
Saruwaka said problems began in 2022 when attempts to evict them surfaced. Initially, the ex-lawmakers were told that the land had been double-allocated and was to be handed over to the Ministry of Defence. However, checks with government offices revealed this was untrue. "Afterwards, corridors of power said that Billy was given the land as compensation for land he lost in Aspindale to a Zanu-PF cooperative," Saruwaka explained. "We were made the sacrificial lamb."
The group alleges that Rautenbach, a wealthy businessman with close ties to Zanu-PF, is leveraging his political influence to claim the property unlawfully. Rautenbach did not respond to requests for comment.
In a separate High Court filing, the former legislators - who include Fortune Chasi, Theresa Makone, Jessie Majome, Webster Maondera and Temba Mliswa - are also seeking to overturn Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe's decision to reallocate their land to Rautenbach without their knowledge.
This is not the first time Rautenbach has been linked to controversial land disputes in Goromonzi. Farmers, including war veterans at Springs Farm, are also contesting his urban development project, which they say threatens their livelihoods.
The outcome of the Stuhm Farm case is expected to test the balance between political influence, property rights, and the rule of law in Zimbabwe's fraught land politics.
The contested property, Stuhm Farm, was sold to the legislators in 2019 under a parliamentary scheme that provided housing stands to former lawmakers. Beneficiaries formed the Stuhm Residents Association, which is now challenging the transfer of the land to Rautenbach under circumstances they describe as murky. The case is before the High Court, with constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku representing the group.
Association secretary and former opposition legislator Trevor Saruwaka confirmed that the matter has also been referred to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for investigation. He said the ex-MPs had paid for their stands and Parliament had even covered surveying costs in 2021 and 2022, which were approved by the surveyor general.
Saruwaka said problems began in 2022 when attempts to evict them surfaced. Initially, the ex-lawmakers were told that the land had been double-allocated and was to be handed over to the Ministry of Defence. However, checks with government offices revealed this was untrue. "Afterwards, corridors of power said that Billy was given the land as compensation for land he lost in Aspindale to a Zanu-PF cooperative," Saruwaka explained. "We were made the sacrificial lamb."
The group alleges that Rautenbach, a wealthy businessman with close ties to Zanu-PF, is leveraging his political influence to claim the property unlawfully. Rautenbach did not respond to requests for comment.
In a separate High Court filing, the former legislators - who include Fortune Chasi, Theresa Makone, Jessie Majome, Webster Maondera and Temba Mliswa - are also seeking to overturn Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe's decision to reallocate their land to Rautenbach without their knowledge.
This is not the first time Rautenbach has been linked to controversial land disputes in Goromonzi. Farmers, including war veterans at Springs Farm, are also contesting his urban development project, which they say threatens their livelihoods.
The outcome of the Stuhm Farm case is expected to test the balance between political influence, property rights, and the rule of law in Zimbabwe's fraught land politics.
Source - The Standard
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