SIMBARASHE MTEMBO
MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO – An elderly man evicted from a piece of land he occupied for 24 years was forced out of the High Court in Masvingo on Wednesday after he made interjections during a ruling by the judge and called President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, a ruse.
Moses Chirume was among 21 villagers most of them above 70 years of age who appealed against an eviction order for them to leave Clipsham Farm outside Masvingo within seven days. The families had stayed on the said land for 24 uninterrupted years.
The villagers’ lawyer, Charles Ndlovu appealed to the Judge to show pity towards the elderly appellants and give them more time to find places to go. They are old and they need more time to move, said Ndlovu.
The villagers’ appealed for a High Court order to compel Government to find them an alternative place to go before they are evicted. They also wanted to be given five years to harvest their crop and to prepare to leave.
Justice Mawadze dismissed the order sought by the 21 families but granted them six months to harvest and leave. He said the courts have no legal basis to order the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Dr Anxious Masuka to allocate them alternative land.
As he pronounced his ruling, the villagers started murmuring and asking the Judge where he thought they were going to go. One of them openly told the Judge that he did not agree with the ruling and that Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 was a ruse.
“There is no legal basis for this court to grant that order. Generally courts don’t direct ministers on how to operate. This court is simply ceased with the criminal aspect of your conviction. We can’t condone an illegality,” said Justice Mawadze.
Justice Mawadze heard the appeal with Justice Sunsley Zisengwe.
“I asked whether you understood the judgment and not if you agree with it. This court’s role is to issue out judgments regardless of whether you like them or they make you happy,” said Justice Mawadze.

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