MARTIN MAWAYA
MASVINGO-ZODWA Simbi, wife of prominent Gweru businessman and farmer Charles Simbi, has won a High Court battle over Plot 42 at Kanuck 4 Farm after securing an interdict barring a mining syndicate from disrupting her farming operations.
Justice Christopher Dube-Banda, sitting at the Masvingo High Court, granted the order against Musiyiwa Silas Paradza and members of the New Generation Mining Syndicate, permanently restraining them from interfering with activities at the plot.
In his ruling, Justice Dube-Banda ordered Paradza, his employees, agents, syndicate members or anyone acting under his authority to stop meddling with Simbi’s farming operations.
The judgment followed Simbi’s successful application for an interdict through her renowned Gweru based lawyer Esau Mandipa of Mandipa Makwara and Chikukwa Legal Practice.
Mandipa appeared for Simbi together with Kwekwe based lawyer Brian Muzenda of Hore and Partners whilst Paradza was being represented by Nyeverai of Mavhiringidze and Mashanyare Legal Practitioners.
Simbi approached the courts after her employees were illegally stopped from tilling land at the plot by Paradza and his hired syndicate members on December 2, 2025.
The court heard that on December 3, 2025, Zodwa hired a tractor to continue with tilling the land but Paradza and his gang stopped the tractor driver at gun point.
The incident was reported at Gweru Rural Police Station but no arrests have since been made.
Mandipa argued that Paradza had no lawful authority over the land, which Simbi was allocated under the Land Reform Programme in June 2014.
He said Paradza was “taking the law into his own hands” and insisted that a previous criminal conviction linked to the plot was stayed pending appeal, adding that Simbi’s right to farm remained intact.
Simbi is among 53 beneficiaries allocated land at Kanuck 4 Farm under the agrarian reform programme aimed to redress colonial-era inequalities and promote equitable access to agricultural land by the black majority.
