By Political Reporter-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top aide and Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira has been taken to court over allegations of seizing an 8-hectare plot in Morningside, Masvingo, belonging to widow Farai Mazenge Mutsetse.

According to Mutsetse’s High Court application, vital documents related to the property have vanished from Masvingo City Council’s files, leaving only a house plan.

However, Mutsetse retained her own copies, including a full ownership history dating back to 1998, and proof of up-to-date payments for water, rates, and services.

Chadzamira, who claims to have bought the plot from the Ministry of Local Government, has failed to produce any documentation to support his ownership claim despite requests from Mutsetse’s lawyers, Dube Banda Nzarayapenga. 

The widow alleges Chadzamira has disrupted her farming activities and taken over grazing land with unauthorized construction.

This is not the first time Chadzamira has been accused of targeting widows. 

In 2016, he reportedly seized a mansion and a farm, Cresta Ibeka, from 66-year-old Yvonne Goddard, leaving her homeless.

Mutsetse is seeking an urgent court order to stop construction, evict Chadzamira, and restore her rights to the land. 

She says the ordeal has caused immense emotional distress.

The defendants in the case include Chadzamira, Masvingo City Council’s Housing Director, the Minister of Local Government, and Masvingo City Council itself.

Sources say ratepayers may bear heavy legal costs due to the council’s involvement in Chadzamira’s alleged personal interests.

The case raises fresh concerns about abuse of power and land disputes involving top officials in Zimbabwe.

-Masvingo Mirror