Zimbabwe's former president Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace have reportedly filed court papers challenging an application by three farmers who were evicted from a farm in Mazowe in 2009 to pave way for the former first family's Gushungo holdings company.
According to Daily News, three farmers – Adonia Makombe, Sahungwe Hungwe and Nyika Chifamba cited Mugabe, Grace, Gushungo holdings, Lands Minister Perrance Shiri, Home Affairs Minister Cain Mathema, police chief Godwin Matanga as well as police chief superintendents only identified as Nhubu and Kunene as respondents.
The three farmers claimed that they were given government offer letters for Lot 1 A Teviotdale farm in 2009, only to be "kicled out" by police in the same year to make way for the former first family’s business empire.
The trio now sought the eviction of the Mugabes from the property, demanding $25 000 in damages for Makombe, and $7 000 each for Hungwe and Chifamba.
However, the Mugabes have filed responding papers urging the court to dismiss the farmers' application.
A NewsDay report said that the former first family's application has been given a boost by the lands minister who has claimed that the three farmers were no longer holders of any offer letters, as they were withdrawn shortly after being issued.
Shiri argued that the trio "have no right to demand anyone's eviction over land for which they themselves have no lawful authority to use, possess or occupy".
"Only the fifth defendant (Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement) can exercise that right when the need arises," Shiri reportedly said.
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