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Municipal Reporter

THE Administrative Court has confirmed Government’s acquisition of Harare South Saturday Retreat farm, popularly known as Ushehwekunze, following years of a standoff that delayed development of the area and gave free reign to land barons.

Justice Herbert Mandeya in a disposition handed over on July 29 endorsed that the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement was the owner of the farm instead of Crest Breeders International after Crest agreed to the transfer to the Government.

Saturday Retreat Consortium leadership composed of members from the 16 cooperatives including Ushewekunze, Chevhu, Highfield Cannan and Tasimuka said the acquisition will lead to speed implementation of development in the area.

Mr Struggle Dzapasi Saturday Retreat Consortium chairperson thanked the Government led by President Mnangagwa for standing with the people.

“We are delighted by the outcome of the judgment which confirmed the land acquisition of Saturday Retreat by the Government. All the 16 cooperatives here were given land by the Government implying now we have the power to start developing the area. This is a welcome development,” he said.

Mr Dzapasai however, bemoaned land barons that took advantage of the legal stand off for years and parcelled out land reserved for social amenities such as schools, roads and clinics.

“We want to initiate a process to weed out people settled on land reserved for social amenities such as schools, roads, and clinics,” he said.

Joseph Manjengwa, vice chair of the consortium was also glad, saying the matter had dragged on since 2015.

“We are happy as 58 members had been given eviction orders including myself but glad that they were never used. Today we are happy that we can now make developments,” he said.

Anna Mutamba, a committee member said the judgement has given them a sigh of relief.

“For us, it was a catch-22 situation as we were anticipating being evicted at any given time. We also thank our lawyer who stood by us through thick and thin.

“We are more than glad that President Mnangagwa’s Government is fighting land barons and standing with the people,” he said.

Saturday Retreat Housing Consortium Secretary Letmore Hungwe said residents were being fleeced various amounts by land barons that were creating fake documents, even some presented in courts.

“Through the New Dispensation, there were some great changes. Courts started analysing the case based on facts to the extent that they managed to unmask some misrepresentation that was being done,” he said. 

Another committee member of Wilbert Mashuro said the matter has put to rest uncertainties among housing cooperative beneficiaries.