Lot J of Borrowdale Estate-Crowhill Farm, a 657.7 hectare plot was taken from its legal owners in 2003 and subdivided between a war veteran, Cynthia Maadza ( 416.25 ha) and James Kamusikiri (240.45 ha) under the corrupt and chaotic land “resettlement” programme.
Maadza alleges that Chombo has an interest in the farm. A visit to Lot J Estate by The Zimbabwean revealed that the farm was being developed into residential stands, with construction already under way by West Properties, which is linked to Themba Hlongwane whom the aggrieved land owners say has received the green light from Chombo to develop the disputed land.
A letter from Chombo in 2009 to Hlongwani says: “The ministry supports your proposal to embark on a housing project at Lot J of Borrowdale Estate Township in partnership with West Properties (Pvt) Ltd. By copy of this letter, the Department of Physical Planning and Goromonzi Rural District Council are advised to facilitate implementation of the project.”
“This is my land which I was officially given by government as a freedom fighter, but Chombo wants to take it for himself and his pawns,” said Maadza.
She claimed Chombo had teamed up with the late Vice President Joseph Msika’ son Cephas, Ozias Bvute and Hlongwane, who claims bought the farm from the former owner Woodhouse, despite it being gazetted as state land.
Maadza alleged that Chombo was colluding to sell 20 stands in Crowhill that his estranged wife Marian had listed as those she wanted a share of in the couple’s divorce settlement.
“I do not know where Chombo is getting his powers from. I met the President Mugabe last September and he reiterated that he does not want his people to be traumatised by anyone. The High Court proved that we are the rightful owners of this land. No letter of withdrawal of my ownership has ever come from Chombo’s ministry or that of Lands and Rural Resettlement,” said Maadza.
Chombo denied owning any stands at the farm. “A lot of malicious statements have been said about me over ownership of land. What I do as Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development is receive applications for land from city councils for expansion. I then facilitate the process following the law which permits me to engage the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Herbert Murerwa, who then looks into available land and approves.
“This woman must engage Murerwa’s ministry which allocated her land and ask them why they handed it over. I do not give people land and, after all, we have been taking land from the whites and what can stop us from taking hers for urbanisation,” said Chombo.
Post published in: News