War vets block Chinese national from stealing their land

A group of war veterans in Harare have won a protracted land dispute after successfully blocking a Chinese national from claiming part of their territory earmarked for housing development.

The former liberation fighters, operating under the Takunda Freedom Fighters Housing Cooperative Society, were allocated a 113-hectare piece of land in Stoneridge for residential stands. The dispute arose when Chinese national Xinfeng Li laid claim to a 20-hectare portion of the land, insisting he held valid title deeds.

Li, represented by his personal assistant Innocent Taru, argued that the property rightfully belonged to him. The war veterans countered that the land was gazetted as state land in 2006 and formally allocated to them in 2017.

The matter spilled into the High Court, where the surveyor general's office was asked to clarify ownership. In a letter dated September 17, 2025, the office confirmed that Li's claim was based on a different property altogether. The letter, signed by R. Mupondi, detailed that the contested land-Subdivision A of Nyarungu of Subdivision A of Stoneridge-was a separate 20.2321-hectare property distinct from the war veterans' allocation.

Faced with the findings, Li admitted that the war veterans had not encroached on his property and applied for a dismissal of his claim.

The ruling brings closure to the long-running dispute, paving the way for the Takunda Freedom Fighters Housing Cooperative to proceed with its planned housing development.