GOROMONZI – Accusations of corruption and scrutiny are mounting against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, as his ally, Muller Conrad ‘Billy’ Rautenbach, is set to receive over 1,000 hectares of farmland, displacing local farmers, as compensation for a property he allegedly never owned.”
This controversial deal, first exposed by the NewsHawks, is leading to the eviction of productive local farmers, including war veterans, and is being widely decried as a ‘brazen’ case of unjust enrichment, fraud, and systemic corruption at the highest levels of government.
The controversy centres on Springs Farm in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East Province, and the adjacent Stuhm Farm. Productive local farmers are facing eviction to make way for an urban development project spearheaded by Rautenbach, sparking outrage and claims of deception, fraud, and corruption.
Critics argue that this move is a stark example of the Mnangagwa administration’s alleged deep-seated corruption and large-scale looting of public resources.
War veterans and even Zimbabwe’s reigning Young Farmer of the Year are among those slated for eviction, a decision seen by many as a betrayal of those who fought for the country.
Mnangagwa reportedly ordered the eviction of farmers from Springs and Stuhm to compensate Rautenbach for land he purportedly lost in Harare. This alleged loss stems from a failed attempt by Rautenbach to evict residents, identified as Zanu-PF supporters, from Aspindale Park.
A letter dated March 14, 2025, from Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe to Rautenbach’s Marimba Residential Properties Limited, confirms the government’s offer of over 1,000 hectares of land as “total and final compensation” for properties in Aspindale Park and Salisbury Park, totaling approximately 180 hectares.
“The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works is pleased to offer you Subdivision B of Springs measuring 671.7604 hectares and Remainder of Lot 2 of Stuhm inclusive of Lot 1 of Lot 2 of Stuhm and Lot 2 of Lot 2 of Stuhm measuring collectively 412.1091 hectares,” read part of the letter.
“This offer forms as the total and final compensation for Stand 48 Aspindale Park Township of Subdivision A of Aspindale Park of Subdivision A and B of Lochnivar measuring 100.01 hectares and the Remaining Extent of Salisbury Park of Lochinvar measuring 80.7875 hectares which the Government allocated to housing cooperatives.
“The Ministry shall facilitate title deeds processing once you accept the offer. Government also expects simultaneous transfer of your properties to the State in order to bring the compensation issue to finality.”
Investigations have, however, revealed that Rautenbach may not have held legal title to the Aspindale Park land for which he is being compensated.
A High Court ruling on March 25, 2019, indicated that Rautenbach’s companies, Marimba Residential Properties and Marimba Industrial Properties, were not registered with the Registrar of Companies at the time they claimed title over the land in June 2018.
The land in question at Aspindale Park was originally allocated to the Joshua Nkomo Housing Co-operative by the government in 2004 for residential development.
The co-operative and its affiliates proceeded to develop and allocate stands to beneficiaries who then built homes, only for Rautenbach to later claim ownership.
Attempts by then-Local Government Minister July Moyo to withdraw the Aspindale Park land from the cooperatives were thwarted by the High Court. Justice Philda Muzofa’s judgement declared the Minister’s decision null and void.
Despite this High Court ruling, Mnangagwa reportedly instructed Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Anxious Masuka to compensate Rautenbach with Springs and Stuhm farms, a significantly larger area of over 1,000 hectares for the 180 hectares purportedly lost.
Farmers at Springs Farm have reportedly protested the evictions, highlighting their significant investments in developing the land over the past 23 years, including irrigation systems, agricultural equipment, livestock, and infrastructure.
Some farmers have even entered into joint ventures with investors, with the government as a party to these agreements.
As if that is not enough, a new dispute is emerging over attempts to allocate more land on Stuhm Farm to Rautenbach.
This land was reportedly sold to Members of Parliament from the eighth parliament under Goromonzi District in 2019, with lease agreements completed shortly thereafter.
