Source: Dispute over farm infrastructure rages on – herald
Business Reporter
THE prolonged dispute over access to key infrastructure at Forrester J Estate in Mvurwi continues unabated, with resettled farmers accusing the previous owner, Mr Henrich Von Pezold, and his representatives of blocking them from using critical facilities.
In the latest escalation of the dispute, resettled farmers have reportedly been blocked from accessing critical facilities to prepare for the upcoming farming season.
The farmers claim they have been locked out of key facilities such as storage buildings, sheds and tobacco barns, reportedly in violation of a High Court order requiring coexistence and that Von Pezold must not take control.
This is happening at a time when farmers are preparing seedbeds for the forthcoming tobacco season.
Affected farmers claimed that it has become a habit of blocking farmers from using key facilities such as tobacco curing barns every season, resulting in some harvested tobacco getting damaged or rotten and eventually being thrown away.
According to a High Court order, in case R-HCH7407/23, issued on June 27, 2025, following his urgent chamber application for an interdict, Mr Henrich Von Pezold was interdicted from threatening or taking any action to secure control of additional infrastructure beyond the infrastructure held by him in 2010.
The High Court, however, ruled that the farmers were interdicted from threatening or taking action to secure control of additional infrastructure over and above the infrastructure held by them in 2010.
“The 3rd Respondent (Ministry of Lands and Rural Development) shall support and secure the applicants’ (Forester J Estate and Henrich Von Pezold) continued and undisturbed use of Forrester Estate, including of the J Section infrastructure, barns and other equipment and at all times shall maintain the 2010 status quo sharing arrangements with the 1st and 2nd Respondents.
“The 3rd Respondent shall promptly and honestly intercede to resolve any disputes that may arise between the Applicants, 1st and 2nd Respondents and at all times without any prejudice to the parties’ rights to seek legal recourse.
“The 3rd Respondent shall ensure that the terms and conditions of this order are communicated to the relevant District Lands Office and the Zimbabwe Republic Police within three (3) days of the date of this order,” the High Court said.
He was ordered to ensure continued and undisturbed use of part of Forrester Estate, including the infrastructure such as barns and other equipment, and at all times to maintain the 2010 status quo and sharing arrangements.
However, according to case number GVECG148/25, issued in the Guruve Magistrate Court on 7 May 2026, after Mr Von Pezold applied for a spoliation order, the resettled Forrester Estate farmers were ordered to restore the undisturbed and peaceful possession of the barnyard they had occupied within 48 hours of the granting of the order.
Forrester J Estate was compulsorily acquired by the Government on November 16, 2001, through a Government Gazette and subsequently allocated to more than 50 resettled farmers.
According to a notice issued by the Minister of Lands and Rural Development in October 2023, the resettled farmers should not be obstructed from accessing the farm and the attendant infrastructure without written authority from the ministry.
The ministry maintains that all resettled farmers are entitled to equal and unrestricted access to infrastructure on the farms they occupy.
The Ministry’s Department of Lands Administration Management is in charge of the infrastructure at the Forester J Estate, with oversight from the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation, Farm Infrastructure Development and Soil Conservation.
A recent visit to Forrester J Estate by this publication last week revealed that resettled farmers have been blocked from accessing the sheds and curing barns they require for tobacco production.
Mr Von Pezold, who reportedly spends most of his time in Germany, has argued in previous court submissions that the resettled farmers should not use the farm infrastructure until he receives compensation for improvements before the farm was acquired by the Government.
The Government has already started the process of compensating former commercial farm owners for infrastructural improvements on acquired farms under the Global Compensation Deed signed in 2020, rather than for the land itself.
About US$3,5 billion has been agreed for about 3 500 former farm owners.
The farmers also allege that those who challenge the restrictions face intimidation and arrest.
The farmers claim that the continued restrictions have resulted in significant disruptions every season, as crops cannot be cured on time because the barns are inaccessible or farmers become caught up in prolonged legal battles.
Sources familiar with the matter said Mr Von Pezold controls seven other farms with similar infrastructure, but allegedly continues to deny the resettled farmers access to the Forrester J infrastructure.
The situation contrasts with other Government-acquired farms where beneficiaries have continued to use infrastructure left behind by former owners while the Government works on mechanisms to compensate former farmers.
One resettled farmer, Mr Tapfuma Mudenha, said the restrictions had resulted in substantial disruption.
“We are appealing to the Government to urgently intervene and bring a lasting solution to the challenges we are facing. The continued restrictions and interference are making it extremely difficult for us to carry out our farming operations effectively, particularly at a critical stage of the tobacco production cycle.
“Beyond the financial losses we are suffering as individual farmers, the situation is also undermining tobacco production and reducing our ability to contribute meaningfully.
“We therefore urge the relevant authorities to ensure that we have unhindered access to the infrastructure required to produce, cure and market our tobacco on time,” Mr Mudenha said.
Another affected resettled farmer, Mr Micklem Gutsa, said farmers had lost tobacco after being prevented from accessing the curing facilities.
He said some crops had been left outside the barns and eventually got damaged after prolonged exposure to the weather elements.
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