Zimpapers Reporter
LAWYERS representing Qoki Zindlovukazi Investments (Pvt) Ltd have demanded the retraction of a notice published in the Sunday News warning prospective home buyers, property developers and estate agents against dealing in a 15,5-hectare piece of land in Woodville, Bulawayo.
The notice, published in the Sunday News on October 4, was issued by lawyers representing a group of 60 women — 57 based in the diaspora and three in Zimbabwe — who claim they bought the property in 2021 for US$410 000 with the intention of building retirement homes.
The women allege that third parties are now illegally subdividing the property into 600-square-metre residential stands and marketing them for about US$18 000 each without their consent.
Through their lawyers, Bukhosi Ncube Attorneys, the women warned estate agents, property developers, investors and members of the public against entering into transactions involving Lot 7, Woodville.
However, lawyers representing Ms Sithule Tshuma, through whom the property was registered, said a High Court case cited in the notice had already been dismissed.
In a letter addressed to Bukhosi Ncube Attorneys, Ncube and Partners said the matter under case number HCBC 155/24 was dismissed for want of prosecution on February 10, 2026.
“We refer to the above matter, which was dismissed for want of prosecution on the 10th February 2026. Both our records and the court record confirm that the matter remains dismissed, and no proceedings are currently pending under that case number,” the lawyers said.
They described the notice as “false and misleading”, particularly its suggestion that a class action involving the property remained pending before the Bulawayo High Court.
“In particular, it asserts that a class action is pending before the High Court in Bulawayo under case number HCBC 155/24, when that matter was dismissed,” read the letter.
The lawyers accused the women of publishing the notice with the intention of disrupting their client’s property development project.
“Our client is firmly of the view that the publication was calculated and actuated by malice, with the aim of causing alarm and confusion among the public and prospective purchasers, damaging our client’s name and reputation, and stalling the progress of its development project,” they said.
Ncube and Partners said their client also shared their view that the publication was malicious.
They have consequently demanded that Bukhosi Ncube Attorneys publish a retraction and an unconditional apology in the Sunday News within seven days, with the same prominence as the original notice.
“We are accordingly instructed to demand, as we hereby do, that your clients (Bukhosi Ncube Attorneys) publish a retraction of the notice, together with an unconditional apology, in the Sunday News within seven days of the date of this letter, with the same prominence as the original publication,” the lawyers said.
They warned that failure to comply would result in legal action.
“We hold a brief to institute legal proceedings if there is no positive response and compliance with the requests above,” they said.
The dispute centres on the ownership and development of Lot 7, Woodville, which is registered under Title Deed Number 769/2021 in the name of Qoki Zindlovukazi Investments (Pvt) Ltd.
The women maintain that they purchased the land through the company, which they say belonged to Ms Tshuma, who acted as their vehicle or agent in the transaction.
Contacted for comment, Mr Vezokuhle Ndlovu of Bukhosi Ncube Attorneys said he was not aware of the dismissal for want of prosecution.
He promised to bring the court papers.
