Chadzamira grabs widow's property

Ezra Chadzamira, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo, is embroiled in a legal dispute with a widow whose 8-hectare plot he allegedly seized in Morningside, Masvingo, to construct a school. The case has sparked outrage, as it marks the second time in eight years that Chadzamira is accused of dispossessing a widow of her property.

Farai Mazenge Mutsetse, the rightful owner of the land, has filed a High Court application in which she claims that vital documents pertaining to her property, including a complete file of her land ownership records, have gone missing from the Masvingo City Council offices. According to the application, only a house plan remains on file, while the rest of the documents have mysteriously disappeared. Mutsetse's lawyers, Dube Banda Nzarayapenga, argue that this disappearance is part of a concerted effort by Chadzamira and the City Council to dispossess her of her property.

Mutsetse, who has lived on the plot for over 15 years, has been paying all the necessary fees for the property, including water bills, rates, and service charges. Her payments are up to date, according to the court application. The High Court documents also show that Masvingo City Council recognized Mutsetse as the holder of rights to the property for over a decade, making the land grab by Chadzamira all the more contentious.

"This is the second time that Chadzamira has taken advantage of a widow's plight," said Mutsetse's legal team. In 2016, Chadzamira allegedly seized the Cresta Ibeka mansion and farm from 66-year-old Yvonne Goddard, evicting her from a home built by her late husband. The property in question is situated near the new site where Chadzamira is now building, highlighting his pattern of acquiring land at the expense of vulnerable individuals.

Mutsetse's legal battle is focused on halting further construction on the 8-hectare plot, where she has established her home and maintains livestock. She has also sought to have Chadzamira removed from the property entirely. In her application, she detailed the emotional distress caused by the loss of her matrimonial property, describing the experience as a source of immense pain and shock.

The Minister has failed to provide any official documents that would justify his claim to the land, including an offer letter, lease, or deed of grant. Chadzamira has insisted that he purchased the plot from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, but no such documents have been presented to Mutsetse's legal team, despite repeated requests. The lack of documentation raises further questions about the legitimacy of his claim to the property.

Mutsetse has also alleged that the construction work on the plot has disrupted her farming activities, including the use of land for grazing cattle. The construction, which began earlier this year, has reportedly expanded across the entire plot, with Chadzamira's emissaries and construction companies moving in despite police reports filed by Mutsetse at Rujeko Police Station.

The legal battle also implicates the Masvingo City Council, with Mutsetse accusing the local authority of complicity in Chadzamira's land grab. She claims that the City Council, which had previously granted her development permits and guided her through the process of securing a deed for the land, is now refusing to release crucial meeting minutes that may shed light on the matter.

Sources close to the case have suggested that the City Council is embroiled in personal interests linked to Chadzamira, and ratepayers may end up footing the legal costs to extricate the Council from the situation.

This case has drawn public attention, not only for the land dispute but also for the broader issues of land grabbing and exploitation of vulnerable individuals by powerful political figures in Zimbabwe. As the legal battle continues, all eyes are on the court's decision and whether the Minister will be held accountable for his alleged actions.