The High Court has dismissed an application by Green Rebirth Trust, led by Nadia Vongai Mabvirakare, seeking an order to bar Batsirai Matiza from interfering with an ongoing carbon credit tree-planting project at Chemapango Secondary School in Murewa. The project aims to cultivate over one million fruit trees.
Matiza, a senior ZANU PF politician, had reportedly invested more than US$20,000 into the project after Mabvirakure approached him for assistance.
However, as the project expanded, Matiza allegedly attempted to take control, leading Mabvirakure to file the application in a bid to protect her initiative.
On March 12, Justice Happias Zhou of the Harare High Court dismissed the application in a brief ruling, with a full judgment still to be released. Reads Zhou’s order:
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Whereupon after reading documents filed of record and hearing counsel, the application be and is hereby dismissed.
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Matiza, who is ZANU PF secretary for environment, was cited as a respondent together with one Tichabaiwa Gwadu and Familia Muvhimwa.
In court papers, Mabvirakare had alleged that between September and November 2024, she received donations from several benefactors, including Matiza towards the tree nursery project.
She further claimed that on February 27, 2025, the respondents acting in concert went to her farm and forcibly took control of the same effectively dispossessing her. Said Mabvirakare:
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Applicant has further learnt that the respondents are holding themselves out as the owners of the project and are attempting to sell off the project’s nursery stock to a third party without the applicant’s consent or participation.
Respondents have barred the applicant from accessing its farming location and from continuing its operations thereat, the applicant is fearful that the respondents will sell off its nursery stock and make off with proceeds to the applicant’s detriment.
Applicant seeks an order restoring its full and undisturbed possession of the farming location as well as an interdict barring the respondent from entering the mining location and from marketing, removing, or otherwise dealing with the nursery stock at said location pending the return date.
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She said she would suffer irreparable harm if the court does not intervene urgently, asserting that the respondents are poised to dispose of the nursery stock on her farm, effectively excluding her from the project.
Mabvirakare was reportedly abducted in Chitungwiza on March 5, 2025, and was later found in a state of shock and trauma in Dangamvura, Mutare, on March 10, 2025.
She was subsequently taken to a private hospital in Harare to receive treatment for both physical and psychological injuries.
Rights activist and Green Rebirth Trust board member Abigail Mupambi linked the alleged abduction to the ongoing Chemapango tree-planting project.
More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/high-court-throws-out-mabvirakures-application-seeking-to-block-matiza-from-environment-project/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Pindula News

Mabvirakare wanted to stop Matiza from taking over a tree-planting project in Murewa. Matiza invested money in the project but then tried to control it. Mabvirakare went to court to protect her project. The court said no to Mabvirakare's request. Matiza and others are accused of taking over the project without permission. Mabvirakare was hurt and taken away, her friends think it's because of the project. The fight over the project continues.

High Court Dismisses Mabvirakare's Bid To Bar A ZANU PF Official From Tree-Planting Project

Batsirai Matiza, the son of the late Transport and Infrastructure Development minister Joel Matiza has been accused of disrespecting ZANU PF leadership after moving around Mashonaland East Province mobilising support ahead of the looming provincial elections.
He is reportedly eying the post of provincial youth league chairmanship post.
An anonymous source who is said to be a top official from the provincial youth league executive told NewZimbabwe that Batsirai’s presence has worried a number of officials. Said the source:
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He is already gaining ground and earning support. This has angered some political bigwigs who never knew he will one day contest. In Goromonzi, the DCC youth chairman had to write a letter complaining about him after he had gathered a number of youths as he campaigns.
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The current provincial youth chairman is Kelvin Mutsvairo who is reportedly eying to replace the late Matiza as the provincial chairperson.
Matiza died early this year due to Covid-19 related complications and was buried at the national shrine after President Mnangagwa, his long time ally, declared him a national hero.
In a letter dated August 8, addressed to provincial youth league political commissar Lincoln Matare and signed by Goromonzi DCC youth chairperson Arthur Chidenhe, Batsirai is being accused of breaching Covid-19 rules as well as breaching the party’s directives on campaigning. Wrote Chidenhe:
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He disrespectfully entered Goromonzi District and called the youths for a meeting without my knowledge as the incumbent youth Secretary for the district. Not only is he disrespecting me, but the entire Zanu PF leadership as well as violating the Covid 19 restrictions put in place by the government of Zimbabwe in order to curb the pandemic.
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Batsirai announced his interests in politics after announcing that he was taking over all unfinished projects started by his late father in the Murewa South constituency.
More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/matizas-son-rattles-zanu-pf/">NewZimbabwe</a>

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