The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
Makoni Rural District Council has come to the rescue of 56 resettled farmers who are facing eviction from Nyamasanga Farm by appealing against a High Court ruling which awarded the farm to Carthouse Enterprises (Pvt) Limited.
Carthouse Enterprises then applied for eviction orders at the Rusape Magistrate’s Court.
The council, through the Attorney General’s Office, has since appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the High Court relied on wrong information in awarding the farm to Carthouse Enterprises, which is owned by a Mr Mlambo.
MRDC argued that due to the value of the land, the case cannot be determined by the lower courts.
The local authority’s appeal saw the eviction of the farmers by the Messenger of Court being stopped.
However, the Messenger of Court had already razed the properties of two families to the ground.
MRDC chief executive officer, Dr Edward Pise, said the resettled farmers were allocated the land almost 20 years ago, adding that they cannot be treated as squatters.
“We have engaged the Attorney General’s Office to represent the council and the resettled farmers in our appeal against a High Court ruling to award Carthouse Enterprises ownership of Nyamasanga Farm.
“We only learnt about the ruling through the media and we feel MRDC and the resettled farmers should have been part of the proceedings.
“Carthouse Enterprises was dragging the farmers to Rusape Magistrates’ Court in their individual capacities and we have since stopped that.
“The magistrates’ court has no jurisdiction over the matter due to the value of the farm under dispute.
“No matter the outcome of the court case, no party should suffer any loss. The law is clear, no one should be evicted without being resettled elsewhere,” said Dr Pise.
