Three Whites Lose Farm To Mahofa

Magistrate Jabulani Muzinyati last week ordered Terry Andres, John Taylor and Grant Hudson to surrender the property to Mahofa who should take occupation until 2033.

Mahofa a former legislator for Gutu south had been in a bruising court battle for the Savuli Conservancy for the past four years.

She grabbed the conservancy under the controversial land reform programme when she and former Bikita west Zanu (PF)legislator, Retired Colonel Claudius Makova got an offer letter in 2007 to occupy the land.

Muzinyathi also dismissed the appeal by the three white farmers with costs. They were represented by Wadzanai Chirongoma of Chihambakwe, Makonese and Ncube law firm.

In their appeal, the three white conservatists had argued that an earlier ruling had been made without taking into account all the submissions that had been made and that Mahofa had not paid them compensation for the property.

In his ruling Muzinyati wrote “The respondents, jointly and severally, including all those who claim occupation of Savuli Conservancy, through them, be and are hereby ordered to vacate the conservancy upon service of this order.

“The messenger of court is authorised to use reasonable force against all respondents if any of them try to resist eviction. The respondents should pay the applicant’s legal costs and are also ordered not to vandalise any infrastructure in the conservancy.”

Last year other white farmers Digby Nesbit and Ronnie Sparow from Chiredzi and Masvingo respectively lost similar properties to Zanu (PF) big wigs in the province.