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NewsDay

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Owner evicted from farmhouse

News
Government is to evict Bushpark Farm owner Gerald Purcell’jilpia from the farmhouse to allow Mvuma Rural District Council to establish a clinic and police post. But Purcell’jilpia, who was expected to have vacated the farmhouse by July 31, is contesting the eviction claiming it was illegal as the land occupied by the commercial farmer had […]

Government is to evict Bushpark Farm owner Gerald Purcell’jilpia from the farmhouse to allow Mvuma Rural District Council to establish a clinic and police post.

But Purcell’jilpia, who was expected to have vacated the farmhouse by July 31, is contesting the eviction claiming it was illegal as the land occupied by the commercial farmer had neither been designated nor acquired by government in line with the land resettlement laws.

In a letter of eviction dated July 16 and marked LAN16 to Purcell’jilpia, the Mvuma Lands Committee demanded that he vacates the farmhouse by July 31.

“This is notice for you to wind up whatever activities you that you are doing at Bushpark farmhouse to pave way for Mvuma council to set up a clinic and Ministry of Home Affairs to set up a police post . . . the cut-off date is July 31,” read part of the letter signed by Mvuma Lands Committee chairperson Muchatonga Mariga.

Mariga confirmed the eviction notice but refused to comment on the matter.“We want council to set up a clinic at the homestead, but for more information you have to visit me at my office so that I can show you all the documents,” he said.

Purcell’jilpia’s lawyer Valentine Mutatu in his July 31 letter challenging the eviction said: “It is patently illegal to evict our client from the five-hectare farm which was neither designated nor acquired in terms of the law. In fact, after the bulk of his farm was acquired our client was left with five hectares with the State proceeding to issue a certificate of no interest and the land has not been designated.” Mutatu told NewsDay Purcell’jilpia was ready to approach the courts to stop the “illegal” eviction.