The ManicaPost
Trust Bvaranga
Chipinge Correspondent
THE long arm of the law finally caught up with a Chipinge land baron who was illegally parcelling out State land to desperate home seekers since 2015.
While David Mwapinda is waiting for his fate at Chipinge Magistrates’ Court, the beneficiaries of his corrupt activities have since been ordered to vacate Letisvile Farm where they had been allocated residential stands.
Mwapinda recently appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mr Alfred Chinembiri, facing fraud charges as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to February 8.
Prosecuting, Mr Thulani Zondwayo said Mwapinda has been selling State land to unsuspecting people since 2015.
It is alleged that Mwapinda knew that Letisvile Farm was gazetted by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development for resettlement under the Gazette Number 4, Schedule 20, General Notice 565B/2003, dated April 11, 2003 and took it upon himself to resettle people there.
He allocated part of the land to home seekers, among them, Juliet Manyanga (49), Joseph Machitama (63), Mishel Madziro (38), Annamore Gabaza (64), Emma Moyana (31), Mollen Anhawani (46), Georgina Mugwagwa (38), Jealous Sithole (19), Freddy Sithole (44), Stella Ndangana (52), Faith Bhasikiti (23), Provide Madzorera (20) and Trace Mhlanga (73).
The home seekers also appeared before Mr Chinembiri, charged with occupying gazetted land without lawful authority as defined in Section 3(1) as read with Section 3(4) of the Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions Act, Chapter 20:28).
Mr Chinembiri ruled that all the illegal settlers should vacate Lestivile Farm by May 2, 2024.
Each illegal settler was fined US$200.
