By Staff Reporter
Harare – Controversial businessman Phillip Chiyangwa has vehemently defended his ownership of a 5,000-square-meter piece of land in the upscale Helensvale area, amidst an ongoing dispute with Chinese investors, JC Delonics.
Chiyangwa and his lawyer, Advocate Itai Ndudzo, presented documents, including a court order and deed of settlement,to a commission of inquiry investigating the Harare City Council’s (HCC) operations.
Chiyangwa asserted that he legally acquired the land in 2015, dismissing claims by JC Delonics, a company co-owned by Chinese national Jesse Zhang and local partner Nicholas Mandeya.
JC Delonics had previously constructed a park on the disputed land, claiming to have lost over US$200,000 in investments due to Chiyangwa’s claims.
Last week, Mandeya testified before the commission that Chiyangwa had allegedly threatened them, instructing them to “go back to their country” and boasting of his untouchable status.
JC Delonics also lodged complaints with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and sought intervention from president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office.
The Commission of Inquiry has expressed concerns about the legitimacy of Chiyangwa’s acquisition and HCC’s handling of land allocations.
Chiyangwa, speaking to reporters, denied any knowledge of JC Delonics’ land claim and insisted that the land was his.
“They are coming here (Commission of Inquiry) to make an impression as if they know me, I don’t know Mandeya, I don’t know the Chinese guy (Zhang).
“I’ve only said if you go to the land, you will see they had put their own people there and they have been using it as a parking bay.
“I approached the guards guarding the land and simply asked whose land is this and the response was, it’s ours,” said Chiyangwa.
“I asked how it can be yours when I have ownership, then I went to council and asked what’s going on and they said we assumed there is no one.
“I have so many pieces of lying ground. I have a court order consented by council,” added Chiyangwa.
Chiyangwa’s lawyer, advocate Ndudzo, addressing reporters from the sidelines of the Commission of Inquiry spoke on behalf of his client and cited four court rulings in favour of Chiyangwa.
“When they came before the Commission of Inquiry, they were fully aware that they had taken their issues to court.
“JC Delonics was the first to go to court over this land in 2023, claiming that Dr Chiyangwa, through Pinnacle, was claiming ownership of land that they believed was theirs, as it had been allocated to them by the City of Harare. They lost that case and also lost the case in the High Court,” said Ndudzo.
“They went to the Supreme Court, seeking to stay their eviction from occupying Dr Chiyangwa’s land, but lost again.They went to the Supreme Court again, seeking time to appeal, and lost again.
“What infuriates Dr Chiyangwa is that they came before the Commission of Inquiry despite having four court judgments against them.
“They believe the Commission of Inquiry may somehow present them with a favorable outcome,” added Ndudzo.