GOROMONZI villagers are at loggerheads with Air Force of Zimbabwe after the soldiers beat up villagers resisting a Chinese company moulding bricks in the area pretending to be constructing a radar system. The villagers teamed up and approached the High Court seeking protection from eviction and safeguarding their graves from desecration. The villagers, Friday Ngoshi, Ephraim Kabvuri and William Kapeta, who are being represented by Norman Mugiya, have cited district development co-ordinator Prisca Dube, Chief Chikwaka, Goromonzi Rural District Council chief executive officer Trust Madhovi, councillor Aaron Shamhu, Member of Parliament Ozias Bvute, Air Force of Zimbabwe wing commander Masongelwa Ndhlovu, Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Valerio Sibanda and Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri as respondents.
The plaintiffs, Ngoshi, is the head for Gutsa village, Kabvuri is the secretary of the council for elders, while Kapeta is vice-chairperson of the Zimbabwe Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees Children’s Association. The village comprises 400 households with an average of five people each. The plaintiffs are all residents of Gutsa village, having been born and bred in the village, “which is the only place we call home and have always called home”.
The village has always been inhabited by them and their subjects since time immemorial. They submitted that in June 2025, Ndhlovu went to Gutsa village under Headman Musonza in Chief Chikwaka’s jurisdiction, where he and his team surveyed the area. After a few days, Ndhlovu and his officers allegedly set up base in the village.
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They submitted that days later, Ndhlovu marked the entire village with pegs and did not inform the plaintiffs and the villagers. Ndhlovu and his officers recently proceeded to clear the land and when the plaintiffs confronted them to find out what was happening, that is when the former told the plaintiffs that the area was designated for their developments and that the Air Force of Zimbabwe wants to put a radar system in the area. The plaintiffs allegedly asked why they were not advised or at least consulted and Ndhlovu told them that the army is above the law and the ruling Zanu PF party and that the military is allowed to do as it pleases and has no obligation to anyone.
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