A bitter feud has erupted within the Zvimba East Veterans Investment Company (Zevic), with two rival factions of liberation war veterans clashing over the control of a lucrative piece of land earmarked for residential development in Nyabira.
Zevic, a company wholly owned by veterans of the liberation struggle, is involved in property development and agriculture.
Both factions are claiming legitimate ownership of the land, producing separate offer letters purportedly issued by the Local Government ministry.
However, investigations have revealed that one of the factions acquired its offer letter through alleged backdoor dealings after misrepresenting to authorities.
The group is reportedly operating in defiance of a standing court order that bars them from executing any Zevic business.
Despite the court directive, the defiant faction has continued to interfere with operations, reportedly enjoying the backing of a senior police officer in Nyabira.
The police officer’s involvement has raised concerns of political protectionism and abuse of power in what should be a clear-cut legal matter.
Further complicating the crisis is the revelation that the same faction led by Michael Changadzo, Douglas Mandaza, Clifford Rutsate and Jowel Samuel Muzhamba is facing a pending court case involving allegations of embezzlement of Zevic funds and forgery of bank documents.
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Despite these legal clouds, the group has continued to disrupt operations, most recently storming and disrupting a stakeholder meeting organised by Zevic board of stakeholders in Nyabira.
“This level of lawlessness is shocking,” said one Zevic board member.
“We are operating under a valid court order, yet these individuals continue to defy it, backed by some elements in the police force.
“Meanwhile, innocent home seekers are suffering.”
The ongoing feud has led to double allocations of stands, causing widespread panic among prospective beneficiaries who fear they may lose their investments.
“I paid for my stand in full, only to discover that it has been sold to someone else,” said a frustrated buyer.
“Now I don’t even know who to talk to, and the police are not helping.”
The standoff has stalled residential development in the area, dashing hopes for hundreds of families who had pinned their dreams on settling in Nyabira.
Stakeholders are now calling on the Ministry of Lands, the Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of War Veterans as well as anti-corruption authorities to intervene urgently before the situation spirals further out of control.
As the veterans' factions continue to battle over control, the once-promising Zevic project now lies in limbo — a stark example of how internal power struggles and unchecked impunity can derail community development.
The infighting has brought residential development in the area to a standstill, leaving hundreds of desperate home seekers stranded and confused.
Efforts to get comment from the Local Government ministry and the police were fruitless at the time of going to print..
Zevic CEO retired major Joe Chimonyo and Mashonaland West war veterans chairperson Cornelius Muoni, the company’s patron, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Zevic is involved in an ambitious housing project that will see the development of more than 5 000 housing units in Porta Nharire, Lumanda and Penrose Chitangazuva in Zvimba district.
Many home seekers had already made partial payments or were in the process of securing stands, only to find themselves caught in the crossfire of the veterans' turf war.
