The Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs has stepped in to bring together two rival factions of the Zvimba East Veterans Investment Company (Zevic) in a bid to resolve a long-running dispute over the control of a lucrative piece of land earmarked for residential development in Zvimba district.
Speaking to Standard People yesterday, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) secretary for information and publicity and Zevic patron, Cornelius Muwoni, expressed optimism that the ministry’s intervention would pave the way for a lasting resolution to the dispute, which has dragged on for years.
“The ministry is working to unite the two parties so that we can engage under one roof and find a common solution,” Muwoni said.
“We believe that, with time, the other side, which has remained adamant, will eventually agree to dialogue.”
Zevic CEO, retired major Joe Chimonyo, echoed the call for dialogue, saying efforts to resolve the dispute had stalled because the opposing faction had repeatedly refused to engage.
“The dispute is still ongoing, but from our side, we remain ready to engage in discussions with our fellow colleagues to find a lasting solution,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the other side has been resisting efforts to come to the negotiating table.”
He said they had hoped to use the upcoming Heroes and Defence Forces holidays as an opportunity to meet and chart a way forward.
“We had hoped to use the forthcoming Heroes and Defence Forces holidays as an opportunity to meet with our fellow comrades, sit around the table and agree on the way forward. However, it appears the other side is not willing to engage,” he said.
Zvimba Rural District Council chief executive officer, Enias Chidakwa, said the local authority had not yet assumed control of the disputed land because the transfer process had not been completed by the Ministry of Local Government.
“The land is not yet in the hands of the council. We are still waiting for the Ministry of Local Government to finalise the necessary documentation relating to the Zevic land,” Chidakwa said.
He acknowledged that disputes over the property existed, but said the council could not take a position until it received the relevant documentation from the ministry and any court orders obtained by the parties involved.
“We are aware that there are disputes concerning the land, but we can only determine the position once we receive the official documents from the ministry,” Chidakwa said.
“If any of the parties involved has obtained court rulings, they should also submit those documents to the council.”
Chidakwa added that the council had not made any decision regarding the allocation or ownership of the Zevic residential stands, as the matter remained subject to outstanding administrative and legal processes.
Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Permanent Secretary, Albert Chikondo, who is believed to be handling the Zevic issue, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The ministry operates under the framework of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act to verify, register, and honour individuals who contributed to the country's independence, while at the same time overseeing economic projects, farming assistance (such as tractor distributions), and business ventures via the Veterans Investment Holdings Company.
Zevic was formed as an economic vehicle to assist liberation war veterans in Zvimba East and uplift their living standards, later expanding its focus toward broader national development, property projects, and empowerment programmes.
However, governance issues, intense factional infighting, and legal disputes have severely disrupted the war veterans' company.
Internal divisions within Zevic fragmented the company into fierce rival factions, causing operational paralysis and repeated court interventions.