For the past week, dozens of families at Warwick Farm in Zvimba district, on the shores of Lake Chivero, have been sleeping in the open after demolitions left them homeless amid bitter winter conditions.
As darkness falls each evening, mothers huddle with their children around makeshift fires while elderly residents wrap themselves in blankets salvaged from destroyed homes.
Others have erected temporary plastic shelters that offer little protection from the cold.
The once-vibrant settlement has been reduced to rubble, scattered household belongings and uncertainty.
The demolitions followed legal proceedings in the matter of Levison Zvirevo & Others v Warwickshire (Private) Limited (HCH 1206/25), in which the sheriff of the High Court was instructed to attach and remove movable property at the disputed farm.
Documents seen by this publication show that Chigwanda Legal Practitioners, acting on behalf of Warwickshire (Pvt) Ltd, instructed the Sheriff to execute the court order in pursuit of a judgement debt.
However, the timing and manner of the demolitions have sparked outrage among residents, many of whom say they settled on the farm during Zimbabwe's land reform programme in the early 2000s.
Residents questioned why the operation proceeded while a separate court challenge relating to the ownership and status of the farm remains before the courts.
“We are living like refugees in our own country,” said one woman as she prepared a meal beside the remains of her demolished home.
“Our children are suffering. Every night is a struggle because we do not know where we will sleep.”
Another resident said the cold weather was worsening the plight of affected families.
“Some people are getting sick. We have babies, pregnant women and elderly people sleeping outside. Nobody seems to care about what we are going through,” the resident said.
Beyond the humanitarian crisis, fear has gripped the community.
Residents told this publication that some leaders who have been representing settlers have gone into hiding amid concerns that they could face arrest in connection with the dispute.
“There are people who are no longer sleeping at their homes because they are afraid of being arrested,” said a source.
“The atmosphere is tense. Families are scared and nobody knows what will happen next.”
As tensions rise, some settlers have framed the dispute as part of a broader debate over Zimbabwe’s land reform programme.
Several residents accused Warwickshire of undermining the gains of land reform and the objectives of the liberation struggle.
“This land was acquired through the sacrifices of those who fought for this country,” said one resident.
“What is happening here feels like an attempt to take us backwards.”
The demolitions have also fuelled debate among settlers over the Constitutional Amendment Bill, which some residents say they support because it seeks to strengthen protections associated with land reform and provide greater certainty for beneficiaries.
The dispute has also taken on a significant legal dimension.
Herbert Zvidzai Chinyani of Chiturumani Law Chambers, who is representing some of the settlers, argued that the demolitions were carried out while important legal issues concerning the land remain unresolved.
“Our view is that these actions amount to contempt of court because there are ongoing proceedings that should be allowed to run their course without interference,” Chinyani said.
“We filed an application challenging the default judgement and also filed summons in relation to the matter, yet the demolitions have continued.
“The court has scheduled a case management meeting for June 23, and lawyers representing some of the government ministries requested time to regularise their position.”
Chinyani said his clients had also filed an urgent chamber application seeking to stay execution.
The lawyer’s arguments are partly based on documents filed in court, including correspondence from government departments relating to the status of the land.
Court papers filed by Chiturumani Law Chambers on behalf of the applicants cite records from the Ministry of Lands stating that Warwick Farm was acquired by the State under General Notice 418A of 2000 and later reacquired under General Notice 288 of 2014.
“According to the records of the Ministry of Lands, the land in question herein was acquired on September 1, 2000 under General Notice Number 418A of 2000,” part of the court papers reads.
“The land was summarily delisted and further, on August 1, 2024, the land was reacquired by the State under General Notice Number 288 of 2014. Therefore, in terms of our records, this land is still classified as State land.”
The ownership and legal status of the property remains the subject of ongoing court proceedings.
A representative of Warwickshire (Pvt) Ltd, Brenda Nyandoro, said she could not comment on the issue.