Online Reporter
Chief Court Reporter
Falcon Golf Club has withdrawn its High Court challenge against the Minister of Defence, Commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and the Air Force of Zimbabwe over its declaration as a cantonment, bringing the legal dispute to an end for the time being.
The development follows proceedings before the High Court on September 24 and 25, 2026, where Falcon Golf Club, represented by Mr Alex Elias Mashamhanda, withdrew its urgent chamber application after conceding that the application lacked merit, according to a statement issued by the AFZ.
The dispute arose after the Minister of Defence invoked Section 89 of the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02) to declare Falcon Golf Club a cantonment through the Defence (Cantonment) Zimbabwe Defence Notice, 2025 (No. 55), Statutory Instrument 210 of 2025.
The statutory instrument was published on December 5, 2025.
Following the declaration, Falcon Golf Club approached the High Court seeking restoration of its occupation and use of the golf club and related facilities.
The club alleged that it had been unlawfully dispossessed by the Minister of Defence, the Commander of the AFZ and the AFZ.
It also sought an order directing the respondents to pay its legal costs on a legal practitioner-and-client scale.
However, according to the AFZ, the applicant ultimately abandoned the challenge during the September court proceedings.
In its statement, the AFZ said: “Falcon Golf Club before the Court made concessions that the application lacked merit and was ill-conceived. Consequently, Falcon Golf Club withdrew its application.”
The military said the withdrawal meant that the matter was no longer before the High Court and stressed that the cantonment declaration remained in force.
“It is imperative for the public to be aware that the urgent chamber application filed by Falcon Golf Club was withdrawn and is no longer before the court,” the statement said.
The Air Force further said the applicant had conceded that the club had been lawfully declared a cantonment under Statutory Instrument 210 of 2025.
“The applicant in particular made a concession that Falcon Golf Club was lawfully declared a Cantonment through Statutory Instrument 210 of 2025 published on the 5th day of December 2025 and remained extant,” it said.
A cantonment is a military designation under the Defence Act, with the declaration placing the affected premises within the statutory framework governing defence establishments.
The Air Force said the legal position therefore remained unchanged following the withdrawal.
“Resultantly, the application previously citing the Minister of Defence, Commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and the Air Force of Zimbabwe is no longer before the Court and operation of the Cantonment proclamation remains extant,” the statement said.
The withdrawal effectively leaves Statutory Instrument 210 of 2025 operative, according to the Air Force, while the court application challenging the occupation and use of the Falcon Golf Club facilities is no longer pending.
The statement did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the club’s withdrawal of the application or whether any separate proceedings may arise from the dispute.
