The government has moved in to put an end to a land dispute involving a retired Swiss banker, Richard Le Vieux and Remembrance Mbudzana, the son to Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister, Ellen Gwaradzimba.
In January this year, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement offered Mbudzana more than half of Farfell Coffee Estates (in Chipinge) owned by Le Vieux.
Mbudzana took the matter to the courts after Le Vieux refused to vacate part of the farm.
The government finally intervened in the dispute and tore off Mbudzana’s offer letter while assuring Le Vieux of his rights to the farm.
Speaking after the Cabinet decision to revoke Mbudzana’s offer letter was announced, Le Vieux said:
<blockquote>The last few months there has been some confusion as to the correct title and tenure of this land by the company and I am happy to say this has been dealt with effectively by Cabinet, by the President and it sends a positive message to all who are producing and exporting in the country that we cannot have disruptions, that we cannot (promote) instability and that we cannot have opportunistic seizures of assets which is what was going on in my case.
What you see here is a 25-year investment, it doesn’t happen overnight and it’s not easy.</blockquote>
Acting Agriculture Minister Oppah Muchinguri revealed that part of the farm under dispute was offered to Chief Mapungwana in 2009, but he never occupied it.
Le Vieux bought the farm from the traditional leader and proceeded to heavily invest in it.
Farfell Coffee Estates not only produces coffee but also produces avocado and macadamia nuts for the export market.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/govt-rescues-top-coffee-farmer/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Herald</a></h4>

Pindula News

White Farmer Thanks Govt For Blocking Seizure Of Coffee Estate

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<h4>More: <a href="https://twitter.com/daddyhope" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hopewell Chin’ono</a></h4>

PICTURES: Farfell Estates Under Threat From ZANU PF Official

Award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has castigated corruption and nepotism in the re-allocation of Farfell Estates located in Mount Selinda, Eastern Highlands. The farm which produces coffee for the export market was given to Remembrance Gwarazimba who is the son of Manicaland Resident Minister. Said Chin’ono:
<blockquote>I have argued that corruption, nepotism and incompetence are at the centre of our economic demise. Now the minister for Manicaland gifted a farm to her son under a different name, that is nepotism and corruption. This farm is a major exporter of Farfell coffee and avocados, forex.
This is not just land, it is a business. Why disturb a major business which exports to the world earning the country much needed foreign exchange when there is so much land lying idle in the same district of Manicaland? How will investors feel safe when they see scenes like that?
Farfell Estates is an established brand whose coffee product was even featured in a Hollywood film, Borat. Any Zimbabwean who wants land can get land because there are hundreds of farms lying idle, it is counterproductive for our country to continue taking established businesses.
We must choose whether we want to succeed or to remain in the past where farming businesses don’t feel safe. These are self-imposed sanctions because no serious investor would want to put money in farming when they can lose their property the next day.
This offer letter [authorising the seizure of Farfell Estates] has R. Mbuzana who is actually Remembrance Gwaradzimba, the son of the Manicaland Resident Minister, is this the New Republic that the President preaches about where ministers can seize businesses and pass them on to their sons using police and hired thugs?</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Hopewell_Chin'ono" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hopewell Chin’ono</a> is a Zimbabwean journalist and documentary filmmaker. He has won numerous awards in journalism and has worked in both print and broadcasting journalism. Hopewell did a fellowship at Harvard as part of winning the CNN African journalist of the year.
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<h4><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/10/21/govt-is-alienating-allies-destroying-confidence-with-silly-appointments-hopewell-chinono/" rel="noopener">Govt Is Alienating Allies, Destroying Confidence With “Silly” Appointments – Hopewell Chin’ono</a></h4>
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