MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa has expressed his disappointment on highly celebrated sports minister Kirsty Coventry, who recently seized a farm through the chaotic ZANU PF land grab process.

According to Chamisa,Coventry has badly tarnished her reputable international sports reputation.

Addressing party supporters through an online rally Sunday, Chamisa said the recent move by Coventry to take over the farm from former President Robert Mugabe’s niece was an indication that there was disregard of property rights in Zimbabwe.

“I saw Kirsty has also joined land grabbing. My sister, the great swimmer, she is now swimming into the farms,” Chamisa said.

“You go and swim in the farms, what is there in those farms? Property rights must be respected.

“An MDC Alliance government will make sure property rights are secured not that when a Zimbabwean has a farm someone from Zanu PF will just pop in and say let’s harvest the produce together,” Chamisa said.

“A country is not run like that, without the rule of law.”

The Olympic gold medalist joined President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cabinet as Sports Minister in 2018.

However, she is under fire for accepting from the State, a 232-hectare farm that was recently seized from Zhuwao. The contested farm is in Zvimba district, Mashonaland West province.

Chamisa joins a bandwagon of people who have condemned Coventry for the act.

A friend of hers who has distanced themselves from Ms Coventry since she moved into government said her acceptance of contentious land, like many other ministers before her, would mark her downfall.

“Kirsty was an inspirational, iconic
figure but she has ruined her legacy in
a few short years.

“She has now trapped herself in this
corrupt and cruel regime. If she wants
to keep her farm she will have to stay
loyal. Farms are taken away as easily
as they are given.

“We cannot take her gold medals away
from her — those were thoroughly
deserved — but she has lost the
special place millions of Zimbabweans
had for her in their hearts.”