daniel chigunwe
Fidelis Munyoro and Fungi Kwaramba
Controversial war veteran Cde Blessed Geza invaded Harare Safari Lodge in 2020, stripped it of assets like cars and kicked out employees of the former owner Mr Brett Allan McDonald riding on his political clout, The Herald can report.
Now, Cde Geza finds himself facing a civil case after allegedly refusing to pay US$1,5 million for Harare Safari Lodge, a property situated on the picturesque banks of Lake Chivero, which he purportedly acquired four years ago.
Cde Geza claims the land in question is State property, rendering it unsellable.
The controversy stems from an agreement between Cde Geza and the lodge’s owner, Mr McDonald.
Under the terms, Cde Geza was to buy Mr McDonald’s entire shareholding in the resort for US$1,5 million, with payment stipulated to be made within two weeks.
However, Cde Geza is accused of failing to honour the agreement, not paying a single cent since the deal’s conclusion.
Despite his non-payment, Cde Geza is said to have moved onto the property, located on Mclliwane 21 Farm, without Mr McDonald’s consent.
He has reportedly taken up residence and is enjoying full use of the lodge.
Efforts to evict him following the cancellation of the agreement have proven futile, even after formal notices were served to address the breach of contract.
This unresolved dispute has now escalated to the High Court, with Mr McDonald and Harare Safari Lodge (HSL) seeking judicial intervention to reclaim the property.
In response, Cde Geza, through his legal team, argues that the agreement is void.
He claims the property in question was acquired by the State in 2005, rendering the sale invalid.
Cde Geza asserts that the deal was not a legitimate sale of shares, but rather an unlawful attempt to sell State land.
Furthermore, Cde Geza contends that his refusal to pay stems from his challenge of the sale’s legality.
He has demanded that Mr McDonald and HSL address what he describes as “encumbrances” on the property, which he believes are tied to the State’s ownership.
The dispute remains unresolved, with a pre-trial conference held in May last year before Justice Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa failing to produce a resolution.
The court ruled that the case must proceed to trial to address three key issues: Whether HSL holds rightful ownership of the immovable property at Mclliwane 21 (Subdivision A of Glenroy of Oatlands), whether the agreement between Mr McDonald and Cde Geza was legally valid, and, if so, whether Mr McDonald lawfully cancelled the agreement.
Mr McDonald’s lawyer, Mr Simbarashe Chigumira, who has been threatened with death by Cde Geza, explained how his client was “robbed of his property” in broad daylight.
“So, our client entered into an agreement of sale for shares in a company. In terms of that agreement, Mr Geza was supposed to pay the amount of US$1 500 000 within 14 days of signing the agreement. The parties signed the agreement in December 2020, but Mr Geza did not manage to raise the purchase price for the shares.
“Another term of the agreement was that upon purchasing the shares, Mr Geza would consequently take over the Harare Safari Lodge, which is currently housed at Lake Chivero. But despite failing to raise the purchase price, Mr Geza took occupation of the lodge without our client’s consent. Our client advises us that Mr Geza forcibly removed his staff from the property and that he’s even occupied the primary residence, which belongs to our client, and which was never part of the agreement,” said Mr Chigumira.
Although the matter is scheduled to go to trial sometime in March, in the meantime, Cde Geza has moved in with his family, stripping the once pristine lodge, of property.
Added Mr Chigumira, “During the course of his occupation of the property, we are advised that he has been disposing of assets. Assets like vehicles and other precious movables have been disposed of without our client’s consent.”
A visit to Harare Safari Lodge yesterday revealed a heart-wrenching scene of neglect and abandonment. Once a vibrant hub for weddings and workshops, the lodge now stands as a ghostly remnant of its former glory.
The thatched roofs sag under the weight of time, while wooden window frames, ravaged by ravenous termites, hang precariously.
The yard, once meticulously manicured, is now a wild tangle of overgrown grass and unruly shrubs, whispering stories of joy and laughter that have long since faded. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and wildflowers, a bittersweet reminder of the life that once thrived there.
Memories of celebrations echo in the silence, contrasting sharply with the current desolation. Just a few years ago, the venue was alive with the sounds of clinking glasses and joyous laughter, but now it lies in eerie stillness, its beauty overshadowed by the shadows of neglect. The arrival of Cde Geza, brandishing an unsigned agreement and a promise to pay nothing, marked the beginning of this decline, leaving the lodge to weather the storms of abandonment.
Online Reporter