( 3 minutes read)
· The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has re-tendered an agriculture project on its farm in Matabeleland South. This has led to a tussle with PKD Malindi, its private partner in the agricultural business.
· NRZ principal property, wrote to the owner of PKD Malindi asking the company to submit a project proposal on the use of Woolendale Farm in Gwanda. NRZ has asserted that the previous agreement had expired.
· The stand of the NRZ is disputed by PKD Malindi. According to NRZ, the project did not take off as a result of illegal settlers who had taken over the land scuttling PKD Malindi’s effort to conduct agricultural operations in the land so that the land can be put to profitable use.
The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has re-tendered an agriculture project on its farm in Matabeleland South. This has led to a tussle with PKD Malindi, its private partner in the agricultural business.
NRZ principal property, wrote to the owner of PKD Malindi asking the company to submit a project proposal on the use of Woolendale Farm in Gwanda. NRZ has asserted that the previous agreement had expired. This stand of the NRZ is disputed by PKD Malindi. According to NRZ, the project did not take off as a result of illegal settlers who had taken over the land scuttling PKD Malindi’s effort to conduct agricultural operations in the land so that the land can be put to profitable use.
The land, way back in 2003, was given to one Dube, a former Zimbabwean. People’s Revolutionary Army –ex-combatant for using for agricultural purposes. But the bland assigned was taken over by illegal settlers. Because of that no agricultural operations can be carried out there. Dube claims that he had invested in the land and wants to reclaim the money he had invested in the property.
The NRZ’s assertion is that it is interested only in signing a new agreement since the joint venture agreement between PRD Malindi and NRZ was expired on May 20, 2020. Taking into consideration the continued interest of the PRD Malindi, NRZ said that it should submit a fresh proposal for consideration. The NRZ also asked from Dube a number of documents pertaining to initial investment, financial performance, returns to the stakeholders etc.
Dube on the other hand claims that presence of settlers in the farm measuring 1264 hectares prevented him from making use of the land for breeding, poultry production, and market gardening and dog training. He also claimed that he has all papers to prove the joint venture between NRZ and his company is intact. The case now may take a political turn since both parties are refusing to budge.
