Chiyangwa in fresh land 'grab' row

A group of farmers in Mashonaland West province has filed a High Court application against Sensene Investments (Private) Limited, a company linked to businessman Phillip Chiyangwa, alleging an attempt to unlawfully seize land they have occupied for nearly two decades.

The farmers are seeking a court order to set aside and cancel a title deed issued by the Registrar of Deeds in favor of Sensene Investments for Subdivision 4 of Lot 3 of Sommerby Estate, a peri-urban property in Norton.

In the summons, the farmers, represented by Meluleki Lunga of Tsara and Associates, named the ministries of Lands and Local Government, Sensene Investments, and the Registrar of Deeds as respondents.

According to court papers, the applicants have lawfully occupied the land since receiving offer letters from the Lands ministry, with dates ranging from January 2007 to the present. The offer letters, the farmers argue, entitled them to legally occupy and utilise the land, with some beneficiaries having since pegged mining blocks on their portions and obtained prospecting licences.

The farmers allege that, despite their longstanding occupation and valid offer letters, the Local Government ministry issued a subdivision permit and facilitated the issuance of a title deed in favor of Sensene Investments without prior notice, consultation, or revocation of the existing offer letters. They describe the issuance of the title deed as "unprocedural" and claim it undermines their legal rights to the land.

The High Court case highlights growing tensions over peri-urban land in Zimbabwe, where long-term occupiers and investors often clash over title deeds and land allocation processes.

The matter is expected to set a significant precedent regarding land rights, offer letters, and the authority of ministries in land allocation, with the farmers seeking judicial intervention to safeguard their nearly two-decade-long occupation and usage of the property.