Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A MUTASA woman found herself at the receiving end of a stern reprimand from Chief Mutasa’s community court after attempting to prevent her father from disposing his inherited land.
The dramatic case unravelled when a Tsonzo farmer, Nester Chinyanga, along with nine other small-scale farmers, dragged Charles Mandisodza and his daughter, Mody Mandisodza to court, accusing them of double-crossing them in a deceptive land deal.
The farmers claimed that after purchasing 11 hectares from Mandisodza, his daughter, Mody, clandestinely approached them, and declared that the transaction was illegal, throwing their investments in jeopardy.
Chinyanga, seething with anger, recounted the ordeal to the court: “Our land deal was above board. The 10 of us pooled our hard-earned money to purchase the 11 hectares from this man. Some of us had started developing the land, putting up structures. Out of nowhere, his daughter is saying the sale was null and void since the land belongs to their family, not him. She even threatened to bring a grader to demolish everything. How are we supposed to take this?”
Mody, unfazed by the farmers’ grievances, stood her ground, insisting that her father had no right to sell the land as it belonged to the entire family.
“I did that because this is a family land. He inherited it from his father, who had inherited it from his own father before him. This is, not just his land to do as he pleases. My siblings and I deserve our share, just as he received his from his fore-fathers. And what about his late siblings’ children? Are they to be left out? He should not be making decisions alone when so many depend on this land for their future,” she argued.
Her father, however, had none of it.
Producing a deed of transfer dating back to 1981, Mandisodza laid his claim to the land beyond any reasonable doubt.
“The land is mine. I inherited it from my father, Chipo Christian Mandisodza who had also inherited it from his father, Charles David Mandisodza.
“My siblings are now British citizens, and are no longer Zimbabweans, they no longer have interest in the land. I even have lawyers who drafted this document when I inherited it. If they want to inherit anything, they should follow proper channels, not disrupt things like this. I sold the land because I needed the money urgently. That is my right, as the owner,” he declared firmly.
The courtroom was tense as both sides locked horns in the heated dispute.
Chief Mutasa advised Mandisodza to apply for a subdivision of the land, and consult his lawyers to ensure a legal and fair process.
However, his patience with Mody had worn thin.
“This land is your father’s, not family land. He inherited it legally. You have no authority to interfere with his decisions.
“You have no say in it, and should not stop these people from building because they have paid for that land. These people paid for their land, and they have every right to be there. If you want to inherit anything, you will do so after your father’s death, not before. Also, I do not think that your father will leave you with nothing as his children,” said Chief Mutasa advised Mody and her siblings to sit down with their father and advise him on the proper legal channels that he should take when selling land.
“All you need is to help your father with ideas on how to do it lawfully. You will inherit the land after his death and not now,” he said.
Online Reporter