Land Invasion Suspected Again at Gilstone Farm

21 May 2026

By Pedro Mbewe Andras

Harare – Thousands of war veterans gathered at Gilstone Farm two weeks ago to discuss a suspected land invasion by youths who are tarnishing the ruling party’s image by occupying land allocated to war veterans under the government’s land reform program. This follows reports that some youths have been loitering on the premises and encouraging those evicted by the Minister to return and reoccupy the land. Some see the move as a way to defy government orders.

Several alleged land barons have been heard saying “no one is above the Party,” implying that the Minister has no authority to remove them. Speaking to this publication, ZANU PF Political Commissar for Mashonaland East District, Rosemary Chotodya, denied that people had defied the Minister’s orders, calling the rumors fake and damaging to the party’s image. She also responded to allegations from some party members that she was housing evictees and giving them back their land.

“Yes, I am housing some families who were evicted, but not to defy the Minister’s orders. I was only giving them shelter as some were living on the streets after eviction. After staying at my house, they are returning to their places of origin. I am only providing temporary shelter for a few days, because as a party we follow the President’s mantra:

‘Leave no one behind.’ It was only temporary shelter, not an act against the Minister’s order” , said Commissar Rosemary Chotodya During a visit to Gilstone Farm, Hon. Minister for Local Government, Hon. Garwe, assured war veterans that the government would not allow rogue youths acting as land barons to seize their land. He also gave illegal settlers a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the land, which was allocated to liberation fighters by the government.