TWENTY-SEVEN villagers have been arraigned before the Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Court facing attempted murder and malicious damage to property charges after they vandalised a businessman’s farm equipment worth $2,5 million over a land dispute.
BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Eight of the accused were charged with attempted murder, while the other 19 faced malicious damage to property charges when they appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Rangarirai Gakanje.
The squabble started after they opposed the decision by businessman Tendai Mutasa to spearhead a $300 million Zambezi water project using solar power on land whose ownership is in dispute.
The State alleges that the accused persons agreed in a meeting held at Masue Primary School to evict the complainant Judith Mabada from Baobab Village Woodlands Estate in Victoria Falls.
They then proceeded to the complainant’s farm, where they destroyed a shed roof, nine iron sheets, water pumps, six window panes and a door frame.
They also went to the complainant’s homestead and burnt a gazebo and one bedroom hut, where the complainant and Siziba Phiri were sleeping.
Property valued at $2,5 million was destroyed.
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For attempted murder, Gakanje advised the eight to apply for bail at the High Court, while the rest are out on $20 bail and were remanded to December 6.
