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

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has accused ZANU PF of abusing the police after its leader, Nelson Chamisa, was blocked from launching a national tree-planting programme this Thursday in Gutu.
CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said ZANU PF is scared of the opposition, adding that they will challenge the prohibition by the police in court. Said Mahere:
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Our lawyers are challenging the illegal prohibition. Zanu PF must stop abusing the police. It is not a crime to plant trees! Varikukwata! (They are scared).
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Police in Masvingo invoked the Maintenance of Peace &amp; Order Act to ban a tree planting day activity organised by CCC member Lloyd Mupfudze in ward 4, Gutu, where Chamisa was expected to preside.
In a letter addressed to Mupfudze, Chief Superintendent Taurai Joackim Mambure, who is the Regulating Authority for Masvingo East Police District, said the tree-planting-day event cannot go ahead because another political party had already notified them of its intention to hold a political meeting in the same ward.
Mambure warned CCC that failure to comply with the prohibition will have serious consequences like imprisonment.
CCC says its mass tree planting day event seeks to promote reforestation and afforestation in the countryside to ensure that communities protect the environment.

CCC Accuses ZANU PF Of Abusing Police After Prohibition Of Tree Panting Event

Police in Masvingo have invoked the Maintenance of Peace &amp; Order Act to ban a tree planting day activity organised by Masvingo resident Lloyd Mupfudze in ward 4, Gutu, on 15 December 2022.
In a letter addressed to Mupfudze, Chief Superintendent Taurai Joackim Mambure, who is the Regulating Authority for Masvingo East Police District, said the tree-planting-day event cannot go ahead because another political party had already notified them of its intention to hold a political meeting in the same ward. Part of the letter reads:
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I Chief Superintendent Taurai Joackim Mambure of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, being the regulating authority for Masvingo East Police District covering an area of jurisdiction extending from Shashe River to the North West, Denhere Communal lands to the North, Dewure River to the East and Manjirenji Dam to the South.
ACKNOWLEDGE receipt of your notification to hold a tree planting day dated 10/12/22 to be done in Gutu North Constituency, Ward 4, at Takaona Homestead on 15 December 2022 from 1000 hours to 1600 hours which you submitted in terms of Section 7 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act Chapter 11.23.
You are being advised that another political party had already made a notification to hold a political meeting on the same date and ward [Ward 4).
NOW, THEREFORE, I as the Regulating Officer do hereby issue this prohibition notice in terms of section 8(9) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act [Chapter 11.23], prohibiting the holding of tree planting day scheduled for 15/12/22 in Gutu North Constituency Ward 4, from 1000 hours to 1600 hours.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared in terms of section 8 (11) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act [Chapter 11: 23] that any person who knowingly opposes or fails to comply with this prohibition notice shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 14 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
The Officer-in-Charge ZRP Gutu is accordingly advised for the necessary monitoring.
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