A group of landowners in Manicaland’s Mutasa district is locked in a legal battle to resist eviction from plots they say they legally purchased shortly after Zimbabwe’s independence.
The affected individuals, many of whom are retirees, acquired land in Irene Township near Mutare decades ago. However, they now face removal after Ferro Consulting Zimbabwe, a land development firm, bought the remaining portion of the original farm in 1999. The ownership conflict has since escalated to the High Court.
In a December 2024 ruling, the court ordered the plot holders to cover several costs — including development charges, endowment and capital gains taxes, conveyancing and rates — and to relinquish part of their land to Ferro Consulting as compensation.
Ferro maintains that it holds legal title to the seven contested plots and describes the occupants as unlawful settlers who constructed buildings without approval.
On June 5, 2025, the Sheriff of Zimbabwe issued a writ of eviction. In response, the plot holders submitted an urgent court application on June 11 to halt the eviction.
In court documents, legal representative Didymus Kubaira — acting on behalf of the first applicant, Mathias Siyapi — argues the eviction is both premature and unjust. Five additional applicants are listed: Michael Roy Sengurai, Wilson Kuziva Mhasho, Charles Mokosera, Mike Chitewere, and Innocent Makaya. The respondents include Ferro Consulting, the Mutasa Rural District Council, and the Sheriff of Zimbabwe.
Kubaira’s affidavit claims the writ was issued before the required notice and rectification periods had elapsed, rendering it invalid.
“The writ should not have been executed before July 23, 2025. It was served too early, and no formal notice to vacate had been given,” Kubaira argues. “The first respondent appears overly eager to displace the applicants.”
He added that the eviction would cause serious injustice, as the applicants had paid in full for their plots and built homes on them.
“Allowing the eviction without hearing their challenge in case HCH2732/25 would be premature and unfair,” he said. “If successful, that case could reopen the land ownership issue.”
He further alleged that some of the plot holders were facing intimidation in an attempt to push them off their land.
Kubaira rejected claims that the applicants were unlawful occupants, insisting that they are legitimate landowners in possession of valid sale agreements.
The matter is currently before the courts and remains unresolved.
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