Simbi Family’s Courtroom, Land Battles Continue to Deepen

Feature By Dumisani Ndlovu

Gweru - What began as a territorial squabble over a farming plot between ZANU PF stalwart, Charles Simbi (pictured), a former ruling party Councilor and losing Parliamentary elections candidate for Mkoba Constituency, and New Generation Mining Syndicate, has snowballed into a high-stakes legal showdown in Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

At the heart of the conflict lies a bitter dispute between the two, with court orders, allegations of contempt and a web of prior convictions painting a picture of a family embroiled in a relentless fight for land, resources and freedom.

In the still pending land dispute involving the Simbi family, a piece of land with rich gold fields, a new twist during trial surfaced with the Ministry of Lands Official, Nyasha Manyakara, revealing that Plot Number 42 is actually located in Kanuck 5, contradicting the disputed lands permit which places it in Kanuck 4.

The permit in question has been described as fake by land authorities, casting doubt on its authenticity despite being flaunted by the Simbis.

The case sees complexities surrounding land ownership in Zimbabwe and the importance of verifying documentation.

The Simbi family’s claim is now under scrutiny as the court navigates the intricacies of the dispute.The dispute revolves around Plot 42 at Kanuck 4 Farm, a piece of land that has become the focal point of intense legal battles.

On 12 November 2024, the Masvingo High Court, under Justice Sunsley Zisengwe in Case No. HCMSC230/24, determined that the New Generation Mining Syndicate’s claim, Fletcher 986, was not located in Lot 4 as indicated in their permit, but rather in Lot 5.

Further complicating matters, the permit in question falsely describes the plot as measuring 10 hectares, whereas credible witnesses have confirmed that its actual size is 50 hectares.

The court declared the Simbis’ interference with mining operations on that claim as “unlawful and illegal.”

Yet, just over a year later, the syndicate, led by Musiyiwa Silas Paradza, alleges that Zodwa Thembinkosi Simbi, have defied the court’s order by tilling and planting crops on the mining site since 2 December 2025.

A provisional order issued by Masvingo Judge Christopher Dube-Banda on December 11, 2025, has resulted in a tense stalemate in the ongoing dispute over the Plot, Number 42 at Kanuck 4 Farm.

In his ruling, Judge Banda prohibited the 1st and 2nd respondents, New Generation Mining Syndicate and Paradza, long with their assignees, agents or employees from interfering with the applicant’s farming activities.

Pending the outcome of the case, the respondents have also been barred from intimidating the applicant’s (the Simbis) workers or preventing them from farming on the plot.

This dual mandate has left both parties grappling with legal ambiguity as the court navigates the complex issues surrounding property rights and the enforcement of judicial authority.

The Syndicate, represented by Chitere, Chidawanyika and Partners, argues that the Simbis’ actions represent a “willful and mala fide” breach of judicial authority that warrants immediate sanctions.

In an urgent court application, the respondents now seek to declare the Simbis in contempt and secure further injunctions against any additional interference.

Attorney Jonathan Chiradza, in his supporting affidavit, warned that failure to uphold a court order could lead to “unlawfulness and anarchy,” emphasizing the potential for physical confrontation as tensions escalate.

The Simbis face legal challenges that extend well beyond the conflict over Plot 42. In July 2025, Charles was convicted of theft for allegedly stealing gold ore from a nearby mine, Pretty Polly 33 Gold Mine.

He was found guilty and ordered to pay $500 fine, or risk six-months in prison if they fail.

He is also appealing against the conviction, arguing that the prosecution relied on contradictory eyewitness accounts.Both Charles and Zodwa Simbi were convicted in August 2025 for forgery and fraud concerning the disputed land permit, or ownership papers, leading to an 18-month sentence given by the Gweru Magistrate Court; six months of which were suspended.

They remain free on bail while their appeals await resolution, but with strict conditions requiring them to reside at their Gweru address and report to police twice monthly.

In a recent court filing, the New Generation Mining Syndicate claim the Simbis “re-invaded” the Fletcher 986 area in late 2025, planting maize among operational mining machinery, an action that Chiradza says represents deliberate sabotage of a legally protected claim, stressing the financial burden this interference has imposed on the syndicate.

The filed court documents state that the actions have stalled operations at the site and have lost revenue for a company already under legal strain.

So far, the Simbis have not submitted a formal response, leaving the court to consider the syndicate’s claims unchallenged.If deemed in contempt, the family could face fines, imprisonment or both, a consequence made more severe by their existing sentences.

Chiradza insists that the court must act decisively to reaffirm the rule of law. The Plot 42 conflict highlight some existing deeper tensions in Zimbabwe’s post-land reform landscape.

Land redistribution policies have fostered a legacy of contested ownership in some areas, while the rise of artisanal mining has heightened competition for resources.

While for the Simbis, farming on Plot 42 represents a vital opportunity in a country struggling with high unemployment and inflation, conversely, for the syndicate, Fletcher 986 symbolizes a critical asset, potentially worth millions in unexploited gold.

For Judges like Dube-Banda carry the responsibility of delicately balancing these competing interests, with their decisions not only impacting the individuals involved but also set significant precedents for how Zimbabwean law addresses matters at the intersection of agriculture, mining and property rights.

As the Masvingo High Court awaits the Simbis’ response, anticipation builds for the next hearing.Meanwhile, the couple’s broader appeals remain unresolved, hanging in the balance with serious implications for their freedom and access to land.

In the Simbi forgery and fraud conviction, Gweru Provincial Magistrate Beaulity Dube sentenced each to 18 months in prison, with six months suspended, leaving an effective custodial term of 12 months.

The couple, however, secured bail pending appeal from Justice Sunsley Zisengwe of the Masvingo High Court, who as well ordered them to deposit US$100 or its equivalent in ZiG and remain at their stated address until the matter was finalised.

Justice Zisengwe noted that their appeal carried merit, observing that the magistrate had erred in convicting them without evidence proving they had forged the document.

Although the custodians and issuers of land, Ministry of Lands and Vungu Rural District Council officials described the land permit flaunted by the Simbis as fake, their lawyer, Esau Mandipa, argued that the temporary resettlement permit at the centre of the case was authentic and lawfully issued, and that the doctrine of common purpose had been wrongly applied.

Taken together, the Simbi cases reveal a family locked in a cycle of litigation that spans mining claims, land disputes, and criminal charges.

The urgent application over Plot 42 is not an isolated matter but part of a broader narrative in which the Simbis have repeatedly sought relief from higher courts, often challenging convictions or contesting rulings that threaten their access to land and resources, also grounded in ruling party ZANU PF political influence and process manipulation.

For the New Generation Mining Syndicate, the latest application is more of protecting their operations and enforcing respect for judicial orders.

For the Simbis, it is just another chapter in a series of battles that have tested the boundaries between farming and mining, private claims and public authority, conviction and appeal.