High Court blocks Billy Rautenbach from controversial land grab in Goromonzi
HARARE – High Court judge Justice Regis Dembure has blocked the eviction of indigenous farmers from Springs Farm in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East Province, declaring the withdrawal of their offer letters grossly unreasonable, irrational, and illogical.
The ruling comes amidst controversy surrounding the farm’s allocation to Muller Conrad “Billy” Rautenbach’s Marimba Residential Properties Limited, a move widely perceived as dubious.
Rautenbach, an ally of Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was found to be in possession of Springs Farm’s title deeds even before the High Court case commenced, strongly suggesting underhanded dealings.
Justice Dembure’s decision to overturn Land and Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka’s eviction order was partly based on procedural flaws.
The judge found that the minister had failed to submit valid opposing papers to the court. The opposing application filed on the minister’s behalf by the ministry’s permanent secretary was deemed defective and thus a nullity.
Representing the farmers, prominent lawyer Lovemore Madhuku successfully argued that the permanent secretary lacked written authority to represent the minister.
Madhuku also cited a precedent from August 2024, where the High Court prevented Minister Masuka from arbitrarily withdrawing an offer letter from Chegutu businessman Christopher Rukawo, who had extensively developed his farm and maintained a herd of over 500 cattle.
Justice Dembure highlighted the inconsiderate manner in which the minister withdrew the offer letters, emphasizing that the farmers had occupied the land for an extended period, relying on it as their primary source of livelihood.
The judge also acknowledged the significant improvements made by the farmers on the land, noting that some had even entered into joint venture partnerships that began in 2019 and are set to run until 2029.
The courtroom, filled with war veterans, erupted in relief and joy following the verdict.
The case was widely viewed as a crucial test of Zimbabwe’s commitment to upholding property rights, ensuring transparency and accountability, supporting its land reform program, and demonstrating the political will to combat corruption.
The circumstances surrounding the seizure of Springs Farm and its allocation to Rautenbach had previously raised concerns, with indications of corruption and manipulation.
These suspicions intensified when it came to light that the multi-millionaire businessman had been issued the land’s deed of transfer on June 5, 2025, before the High Court heard the matter.
Farmers voiced significant contention over the government’s role in facilitating the seizure of Springs Farm and the adjacent Stuhm Farm by Marimba Residential Properties Limited.
The reason for this transfer was to compensate the company for land it purportedly lost in Harare, after failing to remove a group of residents, labeled as Zanu-PF supporters, from Aspindale Park.
Authorities proceeded to compensate Marimba Residential Properties Limited for this “lost” land at the expense of productive local farmers, despite a High Court ruling on March 25, 2019, which explicitly stated that the company was not the rightful owner of the Aspindale Park land.
