XOLISANI NCUBE  •  28 AUGUST 2013 10:45AM  •  0 COMMENTS

HARARE – Zanu PF officials in Mashonaland Central are fighting for a piece of land after double allocation of a farm by government ministers.

Charles Dondo, a State security agent and Lovemore Dzipange are fighting for Lot 1 of Maryvale in Mazowe District after the latter allegedly demanded to occupy the farm.

They have since taken each other to court.

The two are beneficiaries of the land reform programme launched by the Zanu PF government in 2 000 in a bid to resettle black people on farms formerly occupied by white commercial farmers.
 
According to copies of government offer letters in possession of the Daily News, Dondo was offered a subdivision of Mgutu Estate known as Maryvale in Mazowe measuring 80.45 hectares while Dzipange got 76.84 hectares of the same plot in 2002.

Documents further suggest that in 2004, Dondo was further given the whole plot of Maryvale measuring 204.34 hectares, a development that left Dzipange landless.

“You are offered subdivision whole of Lot 1 of Maryvale in Mazowe District of Mashonaland Central Province for agricultural purposes. This farm is approximately 204.34 hectares in extent,” reads part of the offer letter signed by then Lands minister Joseph Made in January 2004.

According to offer letters seen by the Daily News, the 2002 letter was signed by Made as Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement minister.

He issued an offer letter to Dzipange for subdivision 2 of Lot 1 of Maryvale in Mazowe before withdrawing the offer letter two months later.

Didymus Mutasa, minister of State, on October, 5, 2007, cancelled Dzipange’s offer letter, before issuing out another offer letter to Dondo on the same day.

“Please be advised that the minister is withdrawing the offer letter of land made to you in respect of subdivision 2 of Lot 1 of Maryvale in terms of conditions of the offer attached to the offer letter of 28 August 2007, measuring 76.84 hectares.

“You are required forthwith to cease all or any operations that you many have commenced,” reads Mutasa’s October 5, 2007 letter before he signed another offer to Dondo on the same day.

Although the Daily News failed to get hold of Dondo, Zuwa Damson, Dzipange’s daughter, confirmed the matter saying it is now before the courts as the family is fighting to retain ownership of the farm.

“We have taken the matter to the courts because the second offer letter to Dondo issued 2007 October is illegal because we were not given an opportunity to represent ourselves before the minister before he issued out an offer letter to Dondo,” he said.

According to the land acquisition laws, the minister responsible for lands has the right to withdraw or change the offer if he deems it necessary but the person losing the land will be given opportunity to make representations.