Cynthia Chitombi
Former Zanu-PF political commissar and cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere has received a major reprieve after the High Court stopped government from repossessing his Corncupia farm in Mazowe.
However, the Anchor understands that a group of politically motivated invaders are at the farm vowing to disregard the court order. This comes as the farm has just started harvesting its citrus crop.
In a judgment, Justice Webster Chinamhora this week ordered Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Settlement Minister Perrance Shiri off Kasukuwere’s farm saying the move to repossess it was illegal.
The judge also advised government to appeal against the provisional court order within 10 days.
“The respondent is hereby interdicted from interfering with 1st applicant’s farming operations at the remainder of Concorpia Farm in the Mazowe District of Mashonaland Central provide measuring approximately 535.94 hectares including requiring them to vacate the said property
“If you intend to oppose the confirmation of this provisional order, you will have to file a Notice of Opposition in Form No. 29B, together with one or more opposing affidavit/s, within the Registrar of the High Court at Harare with 10 days after the date of which this provisional order and annexures were served upon you.”
Kasukuwere was, in January this year, denied access to his farm accusing government of politically persecuting him.
“We have done our best to keep the farm going, we are in a drought and the few productive farms get attacked. Time will tell.
“Political persecution continues but we shall overcome. Land has now become a fully blown political weapon,” Kasukuwere said then.
Shiri had indicated, in a notice, that the farm was being repossessed for downsizing and re-planning purposes.
