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By Gilbert Munetsi
Business woman Jane Mutasa is embroiled in a land dispute with about 35 families settled on a piece of state land situated in Manyame Park Phase 5 (Ward 1).
The latter have been occupying the area for the past nine years.
Seven of the occupants on Tuesday appeared at Chitungwiza Magistrates Courts to answer to charges of trespassing, allegations they denied when asked to plead.
They were remanded to March 18 for trial.
Those arraigned before the courts were Enisiya Kanosawa, Kudzai Mudapakati, Georgina Zimudzi, Jane Smoke, Tendai Jimu, Emina Takawira and Rosemary Sauramba.
Mutasa alleges she is the rightful owner of the land on which the seven and 28 other families have been settled since 2013.
She came to court in the company of a witness, Caroline Gwinyai.
Upon the insistence of Mutasa who allegedly made a report at St Mary’s Police station, the seven who were home when police swooped in, were rounded up and charged for trespassing.
The occupants, whose legal representative yesterday asked for postponement owing to other commitments, argue they are the rightful owners of the land on which they have built structures and are already paying bills to council for.
Scores of well-wishers yesterday visited the courts in solidarity with their counterparts, but could not be allowed inside owing to their big numbers.
While Mutasa insists she is the rightful owner, the accused also argue they have since regularised their stay on the land, have paid regularisation fees and are still paying related land fees to Chitungwiza Municipality.
Back in June 2020, Mutasa had a default judgement rescinded with costs by the same courts in a related case (Number 857/19) in which Chitungwiza Municipality was the defendant. Nhau/Indaba
