Published: 05 June 2013

LISTED agricultural concern CFI Holdings unit is set to lose 1 057 hectares of its land to government which has showed interest in the piece of land situated in Saturday Retreat Estate south of the capital.

According to the Government Gazette dated April 19, the government plans to acquire Crest Breeders land in Harare.

CFI Holdings becomes the third company to lose land to government after Interfresh and Zimplats lost huge swathes of land to the First Lady Grace Mugabe and Mines ministry respectively.

"Notice is hereby given, in terms of Section 5(1) of the Land Acquisition Act (Chapter20:10), that the President intends to acquire compulsorily the land described in the schedule for urban development," the Government Gazette reads.

The notice further states that the land was ready for inspection at the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement from now to May 20 this year.

CFI Holdings yesterday confirmed the development and said they were concerned about the effects of the move on their operations.

"As CFI we are concerned at this development as it affects our operations on the piece of land in question. The farm targeted for compulsory acquisition houses our layers facilities and nearly 600 people are employed there," the company said in a statement.

CFI said if it is assumed that an average family has five people, then close to 3 000 people whose livelihoods were derived from the farm would be affected.

"We are proceeding to make representations through our lawyers to the relevant ministry why the land should not be compulsorily acquired. It is our hope that this matter will be amicably resolved," the company said.

Government recently successfully took 1 599,7 hectares of land from Interfresh which was part of Mazoe Citrus and allocated it to the First Lady. Interfresh said the land that was taken by the government constituted 46% of Mazoe Citrus’s total arable land, which translated to 30% of budgeted revenue.

Zimplats also lost 27 948 hectares to the government which took over the land using the Mines and Minerals Act.

"Notice is hereby given, in terms of Section 398 of the Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05), that the President intends to acquire compulsorily part of the land held by Zimplats Holdings Limited under Special Mining Lease Number 1 as it fully appears below, for the utilisation of such mining location for the benefit of the public," read the notice.

- newsday

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