Government takes Chiyangwa’s land
Monday, 26 April 2010 11:38
CONTROVERSY mounted over businessman Philip Chiyangwa’s property acquisitions following the publication of a notice that the government intended to compulsorily acquire some of his land in Harare. In a government gazette published in The Herald on Friday, the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Herbert Murerwa announced that the government would repossess more than 586 hectares owned by Chiyangwa, through his company Pinnacle Holdings (Private) Limited.
The government also intends to acquire land from the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association and Jetmaster Properties another of Chiyangwa’s companies.
Murerwa said the land would be used for urban developments.
“Notice is hereby given in terms of section 8(1) of the Land Acquisition Act (Chapter 20:10) that the President intends to acquire compulsorily the land described in the schedule for urban development,” reads the notice.
“Deed of Transfer 5021/07, registered in the name of Pinnacle Holdings (Private) Limited, in respect of land situate in the district of Salisbury, being the remainder of Subdivision A of Stoneridge, measuring 586,8960
hectares.”
It could not be immediately established what kind of urban developments the land would be used for. Murerwa’s mobile was not reachable.
Yesterday Chiyangwa refused to comment on the announcement saying: “Respect my freedom. I don’t want to talk to you people. Don’t phone me again, tell everybody there (at The Standard) not to call me.”
But a post on the Pinnacle Properties website indicates that the company has already serviced 4 775 hectares at Stoneridge.
According to the website, the stands are for churches, corner shops, a residential park, agri-residential premises and shopping centres.
Available are 4 775 stands serviced for sale in a proposed mixed use development at Stoneridge in Waterfalls with planning permission for a shopping centre, industrial, institutional and recreational development, said the company.
Meanwhile, Harare councillors are reportedly planning to counter sue Chiyangwa who has pressed criminal defamation charges against them following the publication of report accusing him of illegally acquiring vast tracts of land around the city. The councillors say Chiyangwa also defamed them when he said they were “hoodlums” after council resolved to investigate his property deals around December.
Councillors hope the counter suit will offset Chiyangwa’s claim for US$900 million in a defamation suit filed at the High Court last week. Alec Muchadehama who represents the councillors said he had entered an appearance
to defend but could not confirm that the councillors wanted to counter sue.
“Following Chiyangwa and his company’s suit, we are supposed to show our attitude to the courts hence my entrance of the appearance to defend,” Muchadehama said.
“This then means we can pursue two options, the first being to demand further particulars of how his claims are made up and the second being to plead to his claim stating whether we are denying or agreeing to it.
“For the second option, we can raise any issues we have against him in the same manner he raised his against us.”
Muchadehama said he was also considering approaching the High Court seeking a review of the criminal defamation charges against his clients.
Magistrate Olivia Mariga last week threw out Masunda and the councillors’ application for refusal of placement on remand, saying there was reasonable suspicion that an offence was committed.
BY VUSUMUZI SIFILE AND JENNIFER DUBE