Land dispute tears family apart

A LAND dispute is threatening to tear a Nyanga family apart after a man dragged his cousin to the community court alleging that the latter confiscated their communal land.

The dispute between Richard Nyamahwe and his cousin, Terrence Mukwekwe, has spilled into Chief Saunyama’s community court where both parties are seeking a redress.

The feuding duo appeared before Chief Saunyama’s court recently where their matter was adjourned to March 15.

During the court session, Nyamahwe asserted that the disputed land which was reportedly gifted to his family by Mukwekwe’s grandfather in the 1980s is now being seized by Mukwekwe.

According to Nyamahwe, Mukwekwe fenced off the land, leaving him (Nyamahwe) with nowhere to stay.

Nyamahwe accused Mukwekwe of forcefully evicting him from the land.

“When my father was still alive, he allocated three pieces of land to his three sons, including me. However, I was employed elsewhere and left my land vacant. My brothers built on their land. One of my brothers and his wife later died and I decided to come back home and settle on our family land. I discovered that Mukwekwe had already erected a fence on our land. I asked him why he had done that, and he told me that he would surrender back the land. He failed to do so up to now,” he said. Nyamahwe said Mukwekwe is now threatening his wife with unspecified action.

“He is now threatening my wife with unspecified action if I continue pursuing the matter. He claims that the land belongs to him as his grandfather gave it to my family,” said Nyamahwe.

In response, Mukwekwe said he reclaimed the disputed land due to the prolonged absence of the Nyamahwe family.

Mukwekwe acknowledged that the land in question was lying idle for nearly two decades, with the Nyamahwe family residing in the city.

He argued that his family ran out of land during that period, prompting him to reclaim the vacant land. He further claimed that the land rightfully belongs to his family.

“The Nyamahwe family had relocated to the city, leaving the land idle for close to 20 years. During this time, we faced land shortages and had to move to the vacant land. After all, the land is ours, my grandfather gifted them with the land after they moved here because their sister had married into our family,” Mukwekwe stated.

Asserting his family’s ownership rights,

Mukwekwe refused to surrender the land to Nyamahwe.

He said he brought the issue to his grandfather’s attention who gave him the nod to repossess it.

In pursuit of a fair and just resolution to the land dispute, Chief Saunyama announced that he would personally inspect it.

Chief Saunyama ordered both parties to pay US$100 to meet his travelling expenses when visiting the disputed land.

“I acknowledge the complexity of this case, and I underscore the importance of gathering all necessary information before delivering my judgment. Such cases are now rife in this area. We want to put a stop to all land disputes. This matter will serve as an example to future cases to appear before this court.

“By physically inspecting the land, I will have insight into the circumstances surrounding the dispute and ensure that my decision is informed by direct observation. Pay my transport costs and I will come there to finalise this matter,” he said.

He adjourned the matter to March 15 to allow for the inspection in loco of the disputed land.