MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Zanu PF Tangwena District vice chairperson is in hot soup after he illegally invaded and settling land seekers at the gazetted land in Chiwundura Constituency.
Gideon Muputa (77) of Umlizu farm in Chiwundura together with war veteran, Lovemore Hungwe of Mkoba 13, were remanded to April 14 for trial, when they appeared in court before Provincial Magistrate Beaulity Dube.
Muputa and Hungwe were charged with contravening Section 63 of land Commission Act Chapter 20:29 which states that “ without the written authorisation or consent of the acquiring authority, to allocate, allot, distribute, transfer, apportion, assign, subdivide, sell, dispose of , donate or otherwise alienate any granted or other state land”.
It was the state case that during the period extending from 2021 to the 17th of January,2024 at Umhlali farm in Chiwundura, the two connived, sub-divided and illegally allocated the gazetted land to 42 land seekers.
The Court heard that Muputa and Hungwe mobilized Zanu PF supporters and invaded Umhlali Farm, subdivided and allocated 5 Hectares of farm to each illegal settlers.
The state argued that Muputa and Hungwe had no written authority to allocate the land.
According to the investigation from the Police, Hungwe who was once illegally settled at the farm was evicted in 2019 through a court order.
Christine Shonhiwa appeared for the state.
