The ManicaPost
Tanyaradzwa Mujati
Weekender Reporter
A GREEDY traditional leader was dragged to court for using the highest bidder concept to sell State land to different people at ARDA Transau in Odzi.
When approached by a new buyer with a higher offer, the village head, Farai Nyakunu, reportedly asked the first buyer to vacate the land.
Many people lost out because of Nyakunu’s double-dipping tactics.
However, Nyakunu finally met his match in Josephine Paradzai who approached the Mutare Civil Court applying for a protection order against Nyakunu.
Nyakunu defaulted the court hearing and Mutare magistrate, Ms Perseverance Makala granted a default judgement.
She granted the protection order which is valid for five years.
The court ordered Nyakuni not to chase the complainant off her property or to harass and intimidate her or her employees.
Paradzai said she bought a piece of land for US$270 at ARDA Transvaal from Nyakunu so that she could build a tuck-shop, but Nyakunu later sold the same land to another land seeker.
She said Nyakunu had instructed her to start building when she paid him the US$270.
Paradzai was already constructing the tuck-shop when Nyakunu paid her a visit and instructed her to stop.
She said Nyakunu started sending his men to harass and intimidate builders who were working on the tuck-shop.
“I bought the land in question last year and the village head told me that I could start my operations when I pay up for the land.
“I followed his instructions, but recently he started coming to my place to harass and intimidate me.
“He comes or send his men when I am not around to harass my workers. If he had sold the land to other people, why did he not tell me earlier on before I invested in the construction of the tuck-shop,” said Paradzai.
Paradzai also said she tried to engage Nyakunu for a refund of the money she had paid him as well as compensation for the expenses incurred in the construction of the tuck-shop in vain.
“I asked him to refund my money for the land purchase, but he refused, saying I had lost out.
“He told me that this has been happened to different desperate land seekers. He said some of his victims are powerful, but he always get away with it.”
She added: “He also said US$270 was nothing to him and I should not be complaining.
“He said he is from the royal family, therefore untouchable.”
