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Zimbabwe: Nkomo Revives Ranch Row

Financial Gazette (Harare)
9 May 2007

Harare

ZANU PF chairman and House of Assembly Speaker John Nkomo has revived his legal tussle against a Bulawayo businessman over a wildlife ranch in Matabeleland North.

Nkomo withdrew a $5 million lawsuit against Langton Masunda in May last year after Masunda had obtained an interdict barring Nkomo and his employees from interfering with the safari operator's activities at Lugo Ranch, of which the exclusive Jijima Lodge is part.
Africa 2007

In legal action seen further drawing out an already protracted battle for the property situated in the wildlife rich Gwayi Conservancy, Nkomo has implored the High Court to evict Masunda, who claims to have occupied the property in August 2002, long before Nkomo took interest in the ranch.

In papers filed with the Bulawayo High Court recently, Nkomo says he wants Masunda ejected immediately for allegedly occupying the property illegally. Nkomo claims that he was allocated the farm under the land reform, and that he holds a 99-year lease issued by Didymus Mutasa, State Security Minister in charge of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement.

Nkomo, who is also embroiled in a $2 billion lawsuit brought against him by former Information and Publicity minister Jonathan Moyo, wants Masunda to meet the full costs of the court action in respect of the ranch.

"Defendant (Masunda) is in wrongful and unlawful occupation of the property and, despite several demands, has refused, failed and neglected to vacate the property," reads part of Nkomo's submission.

He accuses Masunda of "unlawfully operating and exploiting resources at a profit for himself." Masunda was last year accused of illegally hunting wildlife worth $123 million on the property. The charge was thrown out.

Lawyers representing Masunda have indicated they will challenge Nkomo's renewed court action. In papers filed earlier, Masunda claimed having rightful title to the property, which he says was allocated him also under the land reform, long before Nkomo laid claim to the land.

The three-year legal battle at one time sucked in Mutasa, who had issued an order evicting Masunda. However, the Bulawayo High Court nullified the eviction order in June last year, installing Masunda as the rightful settler on the property.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200705100525.html

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