Solution for Manzou farm

Senior Court Reporter
The High Court has ordered Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to ensure that the zebras at Arnold’s Farm (Manzou Farm) in Mazowe do not interact or endanger the lives of the people occupying part of the land. The order was granted by consent in a matter in which the Arnold’s Farm Residents’ Association was seeking the removal of the zebras, arguing that their existence amounted to an indirect eviction of the families in occupation of part of the farm.

The residents argued that the animals posed a danger to their families and that they should be removed from the farm.

But last week, the parties agreed before Justice November Mtshiya that national parks should take the necessary steps to avoid conflict between the residents and the animals at Manzou Farm. The consent order reads: “It is agreed that the fourth respondent will, in terms of the Wild Life Management Act, take steps to ensure that there is no conflict/interaction between the zebras and the persons occupying Arnold’s Farm.

“There be no order as to costs.’

Parks’ lawyer Mr Farai Mutamangira said his client would not remove the zebras, but would simply find ways to avoid conflict between the animals and the residents.

“We agreed that Parks should take the necessary steps to avoid conflict,” he said. Parks had filed a notice of opposition urging the court to throw out the application by the residents, saying they were the ones who took the risk of invading the farm that had been designated as a sanctuary for wildlife. Parks Director-General Mr Edson Chidziya said in an opposing affidavit that the farm had always been reserved for wildlife and that the residents association’s members could not seek protection from the animals.