KWEKWE — Seven villagers who illegally settled at a farm in Zhombe and have been resisting a High Court order to vacate the property have been slapped with a $100 fine each or face 30 days in prison.
Report by Blessed Mhlanga
Appearing before Kwekwe provincial magistrate Taurai Manwere on Tuesday, Ngwarai (35) and Timothy Mabheka (27), Agness Musengi (35) Raphael Macheka (46) Beria Mabeka (35) Dialog Mpofu (29), Modeline Mishi (53), and Lawrence Mariche (23) all pleaded guilty to contempt of court charges.
The court heard that the seven had been evicted from the farm by the Deputy Sheriff, but went back and reoccupied the farm after the Sheriff left in defiance of the High Court.
“On January 27, 2011, the High Court of Zimbabwe granted an order to Macdonald Muzuzi to the effect that the accused are not supposed to enter, plough and possess ground on Farm 34 Chemagora, Zhombe. They were evicted from the farm, but acted grossly in contempt of the High Court by returning to the farm,” reads the State outline.
In passing sentence, the magistrate said refusal to comply with court orders was a serious offence.
“We cannot allow lawlessness in the country. Court orders should be respected,” Manwere said.
Chief Misheck Njelele, who attended the court session in solidarity with his subjects, said he had resettled them on the farm without knowledge that there was a court order barring them from settling on it.
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“I have come here to give moral support to my subjects whom we resettled at Chemagora Farm without any knowledge that there was a High Court order,” said the chief.
