Own Correspondent|FORMER President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace, along with their family business, Gushungo Holdings have been evicted from a Mazowe farm following an application by three farmers who were claiming ownership of the land.

Adonia Makombe, Sahungwe Hungwe and Nyika Chifamba issued summons at the High Court against Mugabe in June last year, seeking his eviction from Lot 1A Teviotdale Farm in Mazowe district of Mashonaland Central province.

The three argued that they were holders of offer letters for the land, which they grabbed at the height of the land reform programme in 2000.

But, Mugabe and his wife challenged the farmers’ assertion, arguing the letters were not an entitlement to the land and that they had no right to demand the eviction over land for which they themselves had no lawful authority to use, possess or occupy.

Mugabe argued that only the Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement minister could exercise that right, but High Court judge Justice Helena Charehwa ruled in favour of the farmers and ordered the former President off the land.

In their application, the three cited Mugabe, Grace, Gushungo Holdings, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement and Home Affairs ministers Perrance Shiri and Cain Mathema and police chief superintendents only identified as Nhubu and Kunene, as respondents.

“It is ordered that an order be and is hereby made against fourth to eighth defendants in terms of R182 (ii) for (1) the restoration of possession of sub-division 1, 2 and 3 of Lot A of Teviotdale Farm, Mazowe district to first, second and third respondents (Makombe, Hungwe and Chifamba) respectively.

The judge also ordered the “eviction of all persons claiming occupation through fifth defendant (Lands minister) of sub-division 1, 2 and 3 of Lot A of Teviotdale Farm, Mazowe district Mashonaland Central Province” plus payment of costs on a higher scale.

However, soon after being evicted from the piece of land, Mugabe, Grace and Gushungo Holdings filed an appeal at the Supreme Court on February 15, 2019 challenging Justice Charehwa’s order and the matter is yet to be set down for hearing.

On February 18, the farmers also filed an urgent chamber application seeking an order for executing their judgment pending Mugabe’s appeal and the matter is also yet to be set down for hearing.

The former first family is reportedly owning more than ten farms in the country.