Gweru businessman and former CCC candidate for Chirumhanzu South Patrick Cheza has appealed to the High Court against the ruling of High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze allowing his eviction from S/D 43 Mahara Farm near Mvuma.
Chiesa is one of 61 farmers who settled at Mahara Farm, but the only one evicted by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development after investing US$200,000 in the farm.
Chisa’s lawyer, Nyasha Magoranyanga, of Mutendi, Modise and Shumba law firm, says in the appeal that Judge Mawadzi erred in granting him the eviction because the eviction itself is unconstitutional.
He also argues that Chisa had the right to be consulted by the Ministry before it made its decision to evict him.
“The court erred in arriving at the conclusion that the appellant had no right to be consulted first before being evicted from the farm in question as an illegal settler, whereas the appellant was legally entitled to be consulted and heard before any adverse decision was made against him.” “, reads the appeal.
Cheza is seeking a High Court order making him the rightful owner of the plot of land and barring the ministry and those seeking to take over the farm.
Chisa has built greenhouses on the farm, drilled wells, installed a solar energy system, has 105 cattle, 136 goats of expensive breeds, 56 sheep, and employs 50 workers whose only source of livelihood is the farm. Masvingo mirror
