Harare, Zimbabwe – A major controversy is unfolding in Zimbabwe following the government’s decision to allocate a significant farm to prominent businessman Billy Rautenbach, effectively dispossessing farmers who have occupied and developed the land for over two decades under the controversial land reform programme.
The land in question, Springs Farm (approximately 600 hectares), was transferred to Rautenbach’s company, Marimba Residential Properties Limited, on June 5, 2025. This transfer occurred just ahead of a crucial High Court challenge filed by the displaced farmers, which is set to be heard on July 17, 2025.
Among those affected by the relocation are notable figures such as Joseph Macheka, a former Chitungwiza mayor and Zanu PF central committee member, retired army major Alfred Chademana, and war veterans identified as Cdes Chikomo, Mangisa, and Muza. Notably, Chikomo’s son, Uniko, was recently honoured as one of the Young Farmers of the Year for 2024 by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
The affected farmers, who had their offer letters withdrawn despite significant long-term investments in developing the properties, have since petitioned the High Court to halt the transfer.
The controversy extends to Stuhm Farm, where nearly 200 stands, encompassing approximately 400 hectares, were sold to legislators and government officials in 2019. This entire tract of land has now also been allocated to Rautenbach.
Ministers Anxious Masuka (Agriculture) and Daniel Garwe (Local Government) are facing severe criticism over the decision. Farmers are accusing them of allegedly favouring Rautenbach and even “attempting to reverse the land reform programme.”
Documents reveal that in a letter dated March 14, 2025, Minister Garwe offered Rautenbach over 1,000 hectares, encompassing both Springs and the neighbouring Stuhm Farm. This was presented as compensation for Rautenbach’s claim over 180 hectares in Harare’s Aspindale Park. However, court records indicate that Rautenbach’s claim to the Aspindale land was dismissed in a 2019 High Court ruling, where Justice Philda Muzofa found his companies had no legal title to the property, which had been allocated to housing co-operatives in 2004.
The reallocation also impacts current and former Members of Parliament who were granted leases on Stuhm Farm in 2019 as part of a government programme to urbanise the land. Many had invested heavily in infrastructure, including joint ventures and irrigation systems, under agreements set to run until 2029.
This escalating dispute raises serious questions about Zimbabwe’s land tenure policies, particularly in light of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s title deeds programme, which aims to secure property rights for citizens. Critics argue that this reallocation directly undermines the programme by displacing established farmers in favour of a private developer.
Uniko Chikomo, son of war veteran Chikomo and an affected farmer, expressed deep frustration, highlighting his family’s contributions to land development and questioning the fairness of the process. The case remains a focal point of legal and political scrutiny.
Trevor Saruwaka, a former legislator for Mutasa Central (2018-2023) and secretary of the Stuhm Residents Association, openly accused the government of corruption. “There are over 180 stands and we bought the land from the Ministry of Local Government after negotiations were carried out by the Parliament of Zimbabwe. More than 80 current and former MPs across the political divide were allocated the land. Even senior officials from the ministry were also allocated the same land. We are outraged and we suspect that some form of corruption transpired,” Saruwaka stated.
He further questioned the scale of the allocation: “Even if the minister felt compelled to give Mr Rautenbach the land, we do not understand why he was given over 1 000ha, when the land that was due to him is said to be about 100ha. All this smacks of corruption, especially as Rautenbach was allocated an offer letter when the matter is pending before the courts.”
Retired army major Alfred Chademana, whose farm of just over 100 hectares from Springs Farm was allocated to Rautenbach, recounted his ordeal: “I was allocated this farm in 2001, as part of the war vets quota. I moved here in 2002 and have carried out many developments including a modern house, irrigation and even a school, on the part of the farm which was not arable. I was shocked when in 2023, some officials from the Ministry of Agriculture came to the farm, saying they wanted to do some inspections.”
Chademana continued, “In 2024, the officials returned and said that they were going to withdraw my offer letter because the farm was allocated for urban expansion. I even argued that if that was the case, as farmers we would be able to do urban expansion by ourselves. However, the officials proceeded to withdraw my offer letter. I then sought an audience with Minister Masuka who refused to see our group. We were then able to see Minister Garwe, who said they were going to give the 1 000ha of land to Rautenbach.”
“I asked him why this was the case. He said it was a directive from the President. I do not believe he was being truthful. My question is what is so special about Rautenbach that he was given almost 10 times what the ministers claim to owe him? Why do his rights seem to be more supreme over everyone else? One thing you need to understand is that the government is not even offering compensation for our farms, they are just saying we should leave. Also, why was he given the offer letter when the matter is still before the courts. It is outrageous,” Chademana fumed.
While Ministers Masuka and Garwe were unavailable for comment yesterday, documents confirm the farm was indeed handed over on June 5 this year.
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