The Harare City Council has once again sparked controversy over a mysterious deal involving land leased to a church in Willowvale, which has seen the High Court barring the local authority from interfering.
Ward 143 Willowvale is a place of worship, which has slowly turned into a legal battleground between the Harare City Council and Johane Masoi Marimba.
Available information indicates that the Marimba Baptist Church of Jerusalem Johan Masoi Chissano is leasing the land for worship purposes with the contract said to run until 2028.
However, the same plot of land was sold to Stoodblaze Private Limited.
Sources say Harare City Council was under pressure to implement the evacuation order.
A letter dated 28 March 2024 signed by Engineer (first name) Chawatama, Director of Works at Harare City Council, confirms the evacuation order.
A response letter from the church’s legal representatives, Zuze Law Chambers, highlighted that the church has a lease agreement with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works that was signed on 20 December 2018.
The lawyers stated that the land in question was government property, and questioned the involvement and connection between Stoodblaze Private Limited and the Harare City Council.
They also questioned the Harare City Council over its mandate to dispose of state land.
The Johan Masoi Chishanu Jerusalem Baptist Church, through its legal representatives, has approached the High Court seeking intervention in the Harare City Council’s move to demolish buildings on the site by the church.
Through an urgent application to the High Court filed on the 11th of this month, the Johan Masoi Tsheshanu Jerusalem Baptist Church has argued its position leading to relief that has prevented the Harare City Council from carrying out any demolitions at the church site.
The case continued in the Supreme Court on Monday. ZBC
