Magunje under siege as investor defies court, divides community

MAGUNJE, HURUNGWE - Tensions are rising in Chasara Kapere village, where residents are locked in a bitter land dispute with Chinese-owned Lebanmon Investment, accused of illegally occupying communal farmland and grazing land despite two High Court orders to cease operations.

The community alleges that while the investor was officially allocated 50 hectares within the Magunje Growth Point Industrial Park, it instead encroached on village land, sparking outrage and legal action.

The High Court of Zimbabwe, in case HCCC12/25, ruled on February 4 and again on October 1, 2025, ordering the company to halt all activity. However, villagers say Lebanmon Investment has defied both rulings, expanding its operations and deepening the crisis.

Local leaders, including ZANU PF provincial members Lancelot Koronga, Thomas Chidzomba, and Village Head Joe Chasara, have been accused of orchestrating a "rule and divide" strategy, allegedly offering villagers compensation packages ranging from US$4,000 to US$8,000 and a tonne of maize per family to vacate the land.

The offers have split the community, with some residents accepting the compensation and others refusing, citing concerns over livelihoods, land rights, and the upcoming farming season.

Critics argue that Lebanmon Investment lacks a valid certificate of ownership for the land it occupies, and that villagers cannot legally sell communal land. The authenticity of the compensation agreements and the true beneficiaries remain unclear.

Despite the escalating dispute, local authorities - including the Hurungwe Rural District Council and the District Development Committee - have claimed ignorance of the situation. A Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in July 2025 tasked leaders with engaging the community, but no such meeting has taken place.

With faith in the justice system waning, residents say they feel abandoned and betrayed, caught between corporate interests, political maneuvering, and the erosion of traditional land rights.

As the conflict deepens, the future of the Magunje community - and its land - hangs in the balance.