BY CHARLES LAITON
FORMER Grain Marketing Board (GMB) chief executive officer Samuel Muvuti and his wife Joylyn face incarceration for contempt of court after they allegedly interfered with farming operations at Holmehead Farm in Mvurwi despite a court order forbidding them.
This follows an application for contempt of court charges filed by Rosters Farm represented by its director Grant Peal.
In his founding affidavit, Peal said he was seeking the incarceration of the couple for violating a court order issued on December 19, 2018.
“The first and second respondents (Samuel and Joylyn) aforesaid actions since April 23, 2019 are a clear demonstration of lack of respect for orders of this honourable court. Not only have the respondents unlawfully interrupted the applicants’ farming operations on the farm, they have also unlawfully taken over applicant’s property stationed thereat. This includes the applicant’s tobacco and maize,” Peal said.
According to Peal, just after having been barred from interfering with farming operations at the farm, the Muvutis, in April this year, proceeded to the farm, where they demanded the keys to the farm’s warehouse containing tobacco and later locked out farm workers.
Peal said Muvuti, his wife and Rosters Farm entered into a joint venture agreement in 2017 to enhance the farming operations.
A dispute arose between the parties, resulting in Rosters Farm approaching the court seeking an interdict against the couple, which was granted by the High Court, effectively barring them from interfering with operations at Holmehead Farm.
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But the Muvutis on April 23 this year approached the farm employees and threatened them with violence unless they handed over keys to the workshop in which the farm owner kept his farming equipment.
“As a result, the tobacco is still stuck in the storeroom. The risk of losing it cannot be over-emphasised,” Peal said urging the court to cage the couple unless they purge their contempt.
The matter is pending.
