The ownership and legal status of Warwick Farm on the shores of Lake Chivero remain at the centre of an escalating legal battle after parties reportedly reached a stalemate during a recent case management meeting, exposing what sources described as contradictions within government institutions responsible for land administration.
High Court judge Justice Joel Mambara directed the parties to engage in discussions over the matter.
“The matter be and is hereby postponed to 23 June 2026 at 9am for case management,” read the court papers.
“The permanent secretaries of the Ministries of Lands and Local Government and Public Works or their appointed representatives be and are hereby directed to do the following; consult with their principals on the registration status of Warwickshire (Pvt) Ltd and meet and come up with a position paper/report to be shared with the court and all the interested parties on or before 10 June 2026.
“The parties be and are hereby directed to hold meetings with government representatives on or before 17 June 2026 so as to come up with a position with reference to the two matters HCH 6602/25 and HCH 131/26”.
Representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, Warwickshire (Pvt) Ltd and Warwick Farm settlers subsequently met at the Ministry of Local Government offices last Wednesday.
However, sources said officials from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the Registrar of Companies were conspicuous by their absence, raising further questions over the handling of the dispute.
The Warwick Farm ownership battle has already resulted in the demolition of hundreds of structures and the displacement of numerous families, bringing the property's legal status under intense public scrutiny.
The demolitions followed legal proceedings in the matter of Levison Zvirevo and 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 judgment debt. However, court papers filed by Chiturumani Law Chambers on behalf of the settlers cite records from the Ministry of Lands indicating that Warwick Farm was acquired by the state under General Notice 418A of 2000 and later re-acquired under General Notice 288 of 2014.
“According to the records of the Ministry of Lands, the land in question herein was acquired on 1 September 2000 under General Notice Number 418A of 2000,” part of the court papers reads.
“The land was summarily delisted and further, on 1 August 2024, the land was re-acquired by the state under General Notice Number 288 of 2014. Therefore, in terms of our records, this land is still classified as state land.”
Despite these records, sources familiar with the proceedings said lawyers representing government departments are now considering adopting a different legal position.
According to the sources, legal representatives acting for the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Lands and the Registrar of Companies requested additional time to regularise their position before the court. “There is a serious dilemma because documents already filed before the court indicate that the land is state land, but there is now a move to align with a position that Warwick Farm is private property,” said one source close to the proceedings.
“If that position is eventually adopted, it will inevitably raise questions about the accuracy and consistency of records previously relied upon by government departments.”
Another source familiar with the matter said the developments have exposed apparent inconsistencies within the land administration system. “You cannot have one arm of government placing documents before the court stating that the land belongs to the state and another position emerging later suggesting it is private property.
“That contradiction is precisely what is now attracting scrutiny,” the source said.