Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
A legal battle between the Municipality of Beitbridge and land developer Kingdom Lifestyle Africa (Private) Limited is looming after the company rejected the local authority’s decision to terminate its contract for the development of Matibe (Eastlea) low-density stands.
The municipality earlier this week announced that it had terminated its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kingdom Lifestyle Africa Ltd and directed beneficiaries of the Eastlea project to redirect all payments to the council. The termination was contained in Public Notice No. 38/2026 dated September 13, 2026.
However, the developer is refusing to go down without a fight, insisting that the council did not follow legal procedures and that the deal remains binding.
In a strongly worded press statement issued on Thursday, Kingdom Lifestyle Africa (Pvt) Ltd said it had noted the public notice and described the purported termination as disputed, unlawful and without any legal basis.
“The purported termination by the Municipality is disputed and unlawful; the Municipality has no lawful basis to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding, nor do they have the right to arbitrarily terminate a binding contract like they purport to have done,” said the company.
The developer maintained that the MOU remains valid and binding, arguing that the termination is both substantively and procedurally defective.
It said its contractors and personnel remain on site and that development work on the Eastlea stands continues.
Kingdom Lifestyle also sought to allay fears among beneficiaries who may have been unsettled by the council’s notice.
The company urged stand owners to contact its offices directly for clarification on the status of their stands and accounts.
“For the avoidance of doubt, beneficiaries are advised to continue making all payments, instalments and any other obligations relating to their Eastlea stands directly to Kingdom Lifestyle (Africa) private limited, through the same channels and accounts previously used,” said Kingdom Lifestyle
The land developer advised beneficiaries to continue making all payments, instalments and any other obligations relating to their Eastlea stands directly to Kingdom Lifestyle Africa (Private) Limited through the same channels and accounts previously used.
In addition, the company said it will continue to honour all receipts, records and account statements issued to beneficiaries and will ensure that all payments are properly accounted for and applied toward the stands allocated.
It warned that beneficiaries who redirect payments to any other party do so at their own risk, adding that the company will not be held responsible for any loss, double payment or dispute over ownership or account status that may arise from such redirection.
“Kingdom Lifestyle (Africa) Ltd is not forcing a relationship here but is bound by a live contract. If the Municipality is serious about terminating the said contract, they should do so the right and legal way, respecting the interests of all stakeholders involved,” read the statement.
The company said the stance taken by the municipality will not help but will bring confusion to the project and innocent beneficiaries.
Despite the dispute, Kingdom Lifestyle said it remains committed to the project and is open to constructive engagement with the Municipality to resolve the matter amicably and in the best interests of beneficiaries.
