The Masvingo Provincial Magistrates’ Court has ruled in favour of former Zanu PF MP for Gutu South, Shuvai Ben Mahofa, in a case in which she was granted ownership of Savuli Conservancy in Bikita.
The former owners of Savuli Conservancy last week lost the four-year-old court battle.
Provincial magistrate Jabulani Mzinyathi awarded Mahofa control of the 5 526-hectare conservancy and ordered the former owners, Terry Anders, John Taylor, Grant Hudson and Savuli Properties, to vacate the property.
Mahofa, who was represented by Isaac Muzenda, won the final execution order on April 5 after the court quashed the respondents’ appeal with costs.
Provincial magistrate Oliver Mudzongachiso had granted Mahofa the first eviction order on March 12, but the conservationists immediately appealed against the decision.
In their appeal, the respondents, represented by Wadzanai Chirongoma, argued that Mudzongachiso had erred by making a ruling before all the submissions had been made and that Mahofa, a former minister, had not paid them compensation.
But Mzinyathi said Mahofa, who initially received an offer letter with a co-ownership arrangement with Retired Colonel Claudius Makova, had an offer letter granted in January 2007.
Part of his ruling reads: “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.
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“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.”
