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Codelia Mondela, Court Reporter
FORTY people have appeared in court for allegedly occupying Heany Junction State farm in Umguza unlawfully for the past four years.

A court heard that officials from the Ministry of Lands and Rural Settlement, Bulawayo, Ms Sibonginkosi Moyo and Kwazinkosi Dhewa, with the police and soldiers, warned the 40 last week on Monday to vacate the farm land.

Mzomkhulu Nkomo (37), Juta Thomas Ncube (79), Melusi Mbambo (29), Lolly Mpofu (30), Winnie Dube (59), Mgcini Mahlabathi (36), Yenzani Mahlabathi (33), Festo Dube (42), Bless Ncube(20), Temba Sedeya (39),Never Khumalo (42),Masibonge Mthombeni (22), Ndumiso Tshuma (29), Tobias Baili (23), Alouis Sibanda (22), Meluleki Dlamini (26), Joseph Zuze (42), Sikhangele Magutshwa (25), Jericho Ncube(53), Silingiwe Sibanda (31), Ntombizodwa Mhlanga (29), Regius Sibanda (35), Wiseman Siziba(32), Edward Nyandoro (57), Mkhululi Ndlovu (28), Michael Ncube (39), Lungani Mafu (34), Henry Ncube (28), Monica Rwatiringa (45), Winnie Ndebele (54), Sithulisiwe Mangena (39), Perseverance Chiminya (19), Siduduzile Nhliziyo (33), Peter Mhlophe (42), Bishop Ngwenya (53), Grey Dube (80), Nkosilomusa Tshuma (32), Phathisani Ncube (23), Nkosilathi Moyo (32) and Precious Mlala (32) are facing a charge of occupying gazetted land without lawful authority.

They pleaded not guilty through their lawyer, Mrs Sheron Padera Drau of Pundu and Company before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi.

Mr Mkhwananzi remanded them out of custody on free bail to December 6 for commencement of trial.

For the State, Mr Mclean Ndlovu alleged that the 40 unlawfully occupied the farm from 2013 to last Wednesday.

He said: “On November 6 and 7, officers from the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement, police and soldiers carried out an operation and warned them to vacate the farm.

“On Wednesday, officers from the Ministry, police and soldiers went to the farm and found them still occupying the State gazetted land and arrested them”. — @MondelaC