2,000 families face eviction from church farm

A tense land dispute has emerged in Masvingo, where the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ), claiming title deeds to two large farms near Nemanwa and Morgenster Mission close to the Great Zimbabwe Monuments, plans to reclaim its land, potentially displacing around 2 000 families who have lived there since the 1980s.

The matter came to light following a meeting convened by District Lands Officer Owen Shayawabaya on November 6, 2025, attended by Chief Mugabe's aide, Pascal Mugabe, Village head Henry Muganhu Makusha, and RCZ representatives, including Reverends Enos Chomutiri, Lovemore Mashamba, and Zambuko. The meeting, held at Chief Mugabe's court, reportedly discussed the planned evictions and hinted at compensation for affected families.

Chief Mugabe, whose real name is Matubede Mudavanhu, strongly opposed the RCZ's move, dismissing it as unrealistic. His office claims that RCZ is being used as a front by a politically powerful family seeking to seize the land. "Those trying to evict my subjects are daydreaming," the chief reportedly said.

The contested land spans Henry Murray and Zero Farms, encompassing two primary schools-Sikato and Nemanwa-alongside 90 boreholes and additional infrastructure near Morgenster. Village head Makusha condemned the church, asserting that the title deeds are relics of colonial times and cannot override ancestral claims. "It's on record that this land initially belonged to Chief Mugabe. We won't accept any offer or agreement… We can't be homeless or kicked away from ancestral land because of a paper drafted by colonial masters," he said.

RCZ's General Secretary, Reverend Lovemore Mashamba, confirmed the church's involvement but declined to comment further, stating that the board is still conducting its on-ground assessment.

The dispute underscores wider tensions in Masvingo, where reports suggest influential politicians have historically displaced local communities to develop upmarket residential areas, including the controversial Clipsham area, where war veterans were reportedly pushed out.

Chief Mugabe insisted that the land cannot be reclaimed by the church, noting that his people were present long before the missionaries arrived in the area and even guided them to the Great Zimbabwe Monuments. Meanwhile, the Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) has been accused of colluding with RCZ, a claim dismissed by its CEO, Martin Mubviro, who professed ignorance of any such arrangement.

The looming evictions have sparked deep unease among the local population, raising fears of displacement from land that has been in Mugabe communities' hands for generations. As the RCZ board finalises its report, tensions in the area remain high, with both historical and legal claims colliding over the disputed farms.