In October last year, Masimba Wonder Chisora tried to use his influential position when he wrote an eviction letter to the Deputy Head at Makumimavi Primary School, Edwin Maseva, alleging he was the bona fide owner of the house located at Donkasteel farm.
Chisora based his argument on a lease agreement, which he said was between himself and the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement.
Two of the teachers who used to reside at the house have since moved away after Chisora and his wife launched a campaign to snatch the property.
Makumimavi Primary School, established in 2003, is located seven kilometersfrom Chivhu town with an enrolment of 120 students.
However, Maseva has remained on the property on the basis of a letter written by the then District Administrator for Chikomba, Hebert Chagwiza in 2003 directing that the farmhouse be used for teacher’s accommodation.
In a dramatic turn of events that points to a plot by Chisora to use his influence to snatch the house, it was his wife Angela who took the matter to the courts accusing Maseva of contravening the Gazetted Land (Consequential Provision) Act Chapter 20:28 for occupying gazetted land without authority.
Contrary to her husband’s previous assertion, Angela claimed in court papers that she was the rightful owner of the house. She claimed that she secured a lease agreement last year from the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement which entitles her to the farm house until November 2016.
Angela claimed that in October last year, she made the first payments to the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement to occupy the farm house following which she sent an eviction letter to Maseva.
When the case was heard for the first time on 26 October, the court ruled that the state had failed to adequately prepare its case against Maseva.
Jeremiah Bhamu from the Zimbabwe lawyers for Human Rights is representing Maseva.
Post published in: News