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Mashudu Netsianda, Online Reporter

THE High Court has reversed the evictions of 68 resettled families that had been ejected from Seaborough Farm in Makwati area of Umguza District in Matabeleland North province by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka.

The ruling by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube Banda follows an urgent chamber application by Mr Mzingeli Dube and 67 others, challenging their evictions from the disputed property.

In papers before the court, the applicants who were represented by Mr Bruce Masamvu of Masamvu and Da Silva Gustavo Legal Practitioners, cited Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka and Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (Arda) as respondents.

“It is ordered that applicants and those claiming possession through them, are hereby declared to have peaceful and undisturbed possession of their respective pieces of land situate at Seaborough Farm in Makwati village,” ruled Justice Dube-Banda.

The judge ordered the respondents and those claiming occupation through them to return the land, which has repossessed from the applicants.

The villagers, who said they been resettled by the Government 20 years ago, were served with an eviction order by Arda.

They sought an order interdicting the respondents from evicting them from the farm as well as interfering with their peaceful possession of their pieces of land.

In his founding affidavit, Mr Dube, who is representing all the applicants, argued that their eviction was illegal given that when they were resettled 20 years, the land had not been gazetted or leased.

“I am an applicant in this matter together with 67 others who are also occupants of a certain piece of land namely Makwati village in Seaborough Farm, Umguza District.

“Some time at the beginning of September 2020 the first respondent (Dr Masuka) issued summons with an order for our eviction claiming the land constitutes gazetted land, and that it had been leased to second respondent (Arda), which summons are still pending,” he said.

“The respondents and their agents have unlawfully interfered with the applicants’ peaceful and undisturbed possession by evicting them from the land without lawful authority.”

The applicants, who are all veterans of the liberation struggle, said their matter was extremely urgent and could not wait to be heard in a normal way, arguing that they continued to suffer irreparable harm.

“The applicants have prima facie right to be heard and to be given reasons for any decision, which negatively affects them.

“Balance of convenience favours the granting of the application as there is no alternative relief to the order being sought,” said Mr Dube.

He said they were settled by the Government 20 years ago and were reassured that the land was not gazetted or leased.

“The respondents have invaded our land, which we have occupied peacefully and undisturbed for over 20 years and have begun removing us from the land. The respondents have started erecting boundary fences within our properties, and forcing us to relocate to rocky and infertile land,” said Mr Dube.

“I submit that the first respondent resettled us on the land 20 years ago and assured us of having full occupation and guaranteed that the land was not to be leased out or gazetted.

“Ever since that time, we have been in peaceful and undisturbed possession of our portions of land where we are involved in various farming activities until July 14, 2022 when the respondents ordered us to vacate the land.”

Mr Dube argued that proper procedures were not followed as they were evicted without a court order.

He said the legal proceedings around the matter are still ongoing and nearing pre-trial stage.

Minister Masuka and Arda were represented by the Civil Division in the Attorney-General’s Office