By Andrew Muvishi
The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe has finally put to rest a nine-year legal battle between Marondera Municipality and Swandev Private Limited after dismissing the council’s appeal for failing to comply with procedural requirements.
The municipality had sought to overturn a High Court ruling that barred it from selling or allocating residential stands on Elmswood Farm.
Swandev Pvt Ltd was declared the owner of the farm, and the municipality sought to have that reversed.
However, in its judgment, the Supreme Court noted that the council failed to comply with Rule 24 of the Supreme Court Rules (2025).
The rule deals specifically with the requirement to inspect the record within a stipulated time.
“In terms of Sub-rule (12) of Rule 24, the appeal is regarded as abandoned and is hereby dismissed,” the court ruled.
The dispute dates back to 2015, when thousands of Marondera residents were made to pay amounts ranging between US$500 and US$1,500 to the council for residential stands.
Beneficiaries were promised land in Elmswood with the assistance of the then Zanu PF candidate Lawrence Katsiru.
However, it later emerged that the land belonged to Swandev Pvt Ltd, sparking a protracted legal battle.
Over the years, several meetings between the municipality and Swandev Pvt Ltd ended in deadlock.
This has left residents in limbo.
The Supreme Court’s ruling now cements Swandev’s ownership of Elmswood Farm and closes the door on further challenges by the council.
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