The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
A CHIPINGE family’s members were left without a roof over their heads and had to seek refuge at a neighbour’s place after their landlord evicted them for refusing to buy him beer.
The matter came to light at the Chipinge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Alexander Njapa, owner of Njapa Farm in Maradzikwa Village under Chief Mapungwana, appeared before Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi facing charges of malicious damage to property.
Njapa is accused of destroying his tenant, Last Dandira’s property.
Dandira is a tenant at Njapa’s five-hectare plot.
Appearing for the State, Mr Edmore Mahlanganise said on October 31, 2021, Njapa went to Dandira’s homestead and demanded money to buy beer.
“Dandira told his landlord that he was broke. He left Njapa at the homestead and went to the field. Njapa followed Dandira and asked him to pay for the wood he had cleared on the plot. Dandira again refused to give Njapa any money.
“This did not go down well with Njapa and he ordered Dandira to immediately vacate the farm,” said Mr Mahlanganise.
Dandira approached the village head and reported his eviction without notice case.
He went back to Njapa Farm in the company of the village head and found Njapa and some two teenagers destroying his two huts.
“All the structures were razed down and Dandira and his family had to seek accommodation at a neighbour’s place,” said Mr Mhlanganise.
Asked why he committed the offence, Njapa said his tenant had not been paying rentals as per their agreement.
“He was not paying rent as per our agreement, so I asked him to leave, but he resisted. I am afraid that I might lose the farm to my tenants as they are no longer taking orders from me, hence this bold decision l took in evicting them,” said Njapa.
Mrs Hanzi ordered Njapa to restitute Dandira US$300, which is the value of the destroyed property.
If he doesn’t pay by January 31, Njapa will face two months imprisonment.
