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Robert Mugabe and Wife Grace Kicked Out of Mazowe Farm They Had Grabbed

In a development which was previously unthinkable, former President Robert Mugabe, his wife Grace Mugabe and their family business Gushungo Holdings have been ordered to vacate their Mazoe farm to make way for three farmers who argued that their rightful owners. According to NewsDay, the ruling was made by Harare High Court judge Justice Helena Charehwa after the three farmers Adonia Makombe, Sahungwe Hungwe and Nyika Chifamba had argued that the Mugabes had “grabbed” their farm from them even though they were the rightful owners of the land which they had grabbed during the land reform programme in the early 2000s.

The Mugabes, on the other hand, argued that the trio had no claim on the farm as they had no lawful authority since they had also grabbed the farm themselves in turn. In their application, the farmers had cited as Mugabe, Grace, Gushungo Holdings, Police Commissioner-General God-win Matanga, Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement and Home Affairs ministers Perrance Shiri and Cain Mathema and police chief superintendents only identified as Nhubu and Kunene as the respondents

In passing judgement Justice Charehwa said,

It is ordered that an order be and is hereby made against fourth to eighth defendants in terms of R182 (ii) for (1) the restoration of possession of sub-division 1, 2 and 3 of Lot A of Teviotdale Farm, Mazowe district to first, second and third respondents (Makombe, Hungwe and Chifamba) respectively.

The judge also ordered

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…eviction of all persons claiming occupation through the fifth defendant (Lands minister) of subdivision 1, 2 and 3 of Lot A of Teviotdale Farm, Mazowe district Mashonaland Central Province.

The judge also awarded costs against the former President on a higher scale.  However, the Mugabe’s will not be leaving the farm any time soon because, after the eviction order, they filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order. The matter is yet to be set down for hearing.