At the centre of the case is the Lands Tenure Implementation Committee, chaired by Kudakwashe Tagwirei, which the veterans claim was formed outside constitutional provisions. The committee has reportedly been demanding large payments from land reform beneficiaries, with some individuals being billed as much as $1.5 million, depending on the size and region of their farms.
Leading the charge is war veteran Blessed Geza, who, along with four others, is demanding that the courts declare the committee’s operations unconstitutional. They allege the committee has been selling off land and channelling proceeds into private accounts, bypassing the state and Zimbabwe's land laws.
During a televised interview, political activist and journalist Evan Mawarire strongly criticised the government’s actions, labelling them as a violation of the constitution. He stated:
“This lands committee is not recognised under any law or constitutional provision. Its activities are illegal and undermine the legacy of the liberation struggle.”
He pointed to Section 290 and Section 72 (4 & 5) of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which confirm that agricultural land is vested in the state and cancel any previous freehold title deeds for such land. According to Mawarire, Mnangagwa's attempt to reintroduce freehold land ownership without parliamentary approval, or a referendum, is a serious breach of constitutional procedure.
“This marks a major departure from the founding principles of the liberation movement,” he said. “Land was meant to remain under state control to ensure equitable distribution. Private ownership contradicts what veterans fought for.”
War veterans, historically aligned with the ruling ZANU-PF party, now find themselves at odds with the leadership they once defended. Mawarire suggested that their move signals a broader political crisis, noting the absence of effective opposition in Zimbabwe.
“The war veterans are now stepping into the role of holding the government accountable, something the opposition has failed to do,” he added.
Critics argue that Mnagwangwa's creation of a parallel structure to the Zimbabwe Lands Commission, the only body constitutionally mandated to oversee land tenure issues, is yet another example of the executive branch sidestepping legal norms. Mawarire accused the President of behaving like a “land baron” and establishing a “quartet of looters.”
The court case comes at a time of growing discontent within ZANU-PF ranks, raising questions about Mnangagwa’s political future and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. The war veterans' demand for judicial intervention could set a significant precedent in how the country manages state land and constitutional governance going forward.
--ChannelAfrica--
