Transtobac (Pvt) Ltd v Makiwa AND Transtobac (Pvt) Ltd & 60 Ors (HC 12542 of 2012) [2015] ZWHHC 460 (19 May 2015)

Transtobac (Pvt) Ltd v Makiwa AND Transtobac (Pvt) Ltd & 60 Ors (HC 12542 of 2012) [2015] ZWHHC 460 (19 May 2015)

The absence of a subdivision permit rendered any purported sale or rent-to-buy agreement void ab initio. Defendants were tenants, not purchasers, and had no legal basis to remain in occupation without paying rent. The plaintiff was entitled to eviction. The claim for arrear rentals failed for lack of proof of quantum.

Citation
[2015] ZWHHC 460
Parties
Plaintiff: Transtobac (Pvt) Ltd; Defendant: C. Makiwa; Defendant: T. Tapera; Defendant: Sarah Jumbe; Defendant: Vhuramai Rumbie; Defendant: Mutonhori Chatukuta; Defendant: R. Karimatsenga; Defendant: Annah Watungwa; Defendant: Passmore Machingura; Defendant: Brighton Chagonda; Defendant: Shangwa Chaduka; Defendant: Emmanuel Gumbo; Defendant: Ekina Karimatsenga; Defendant: Robson Pepukai; Defendant: Spiwe Changuchino; Defendant: Solomon Velavelila; Defendant: W. Chiwawa; Defendant: Lovemore Muzuwa; Defendant: Willard Chikaka; Defendant: Johaness Umfana; Defendant: Stuart Mutizwa; Defendant: Ford Kachikopa; Defendant: Takundwa Gwangwadza; Defendant: Tawengwa Mamvura; Defendant: Milton Kapita; Defendant: Daniel Nyamuwe; Defendant: Eriah Chirenda; Defendant: Wilson Sigauke; Defendant: Blessing Zianda; Defendant: Athanas Mutarirano; Defendant: Golden Chemudondo; Defendant: Edias Masocha; Defendant: James Manyika; Defendant: Mukotsi Wa; Defendant: Chipo Mharadze; Defendant: Dadirayi Muchena; Defendant: Amadias Manyere; Defendant: B. Musiniwa; Defendant: Nhamo Kaitano; Defendant: Kenneth Chagonda; Defendant: Kredias Chikava; Defendant: Samuel Simango; Defendant: Tennyson Murambiwa; Defendant: Robson Mushapaidze; Defendant: O. Masaka; Defendant: Elson Mapenduka; Defendant: Stephen Mudzamiri; Defendant: Austin Madzivire; Defendant: Johnfani David Moses; Defendant: Sarah Mukute; Defendant: Gideon Saburi; Defendant: Frederick Never; Defendant: Rabsac Chemhere; Defendant: Calisto Murambatsvina; Defendant: Peter Chinungu; Defendant: Chanetsa Majuru; Defendant: Obert Mukuti; Defendant: Nixon Zinge; Defendant: Nhamo Sveto; Defendant: Peter Munzei; Defendant: Erick Timburwa
Court
Harare High Court
Jurisdiction
Zimbabwe
Judgment Date
19 May 2015
Case Number
HC 12542 of 2012
Procedural Posture
Civil Trial / Judgment After Consolidated Trial
Outcome
Plaintiff's claim for eviction granted; claim for arrear rentals dismissed; counterclaim dismissed; costs awarded to plaintiff.
Legal Topics
Eviction, Lease Agreements, Sale of Immovable Property, Subdivision Permits, Arrear Rent, Counterclaim, Costs
Source Language
English
Property Law Land Law Contract Law Eviction Lease Agreements Sale of Immovable Property Subdivision Permits Arrear Rent +2 more

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Parties

Transtobac (Pvt) Ltd

Plaintiff

C. Makiwa

Defendant

T. Tapera

Defendant

Sarah Jumbe

Defendant

Vhuramai Rumbie

Defendant

Mutonhori Chatukuta

Defendant

R. Karimatsenga

Defendant

Annah Watungwa

Defendant

Passmore Machingura

Defendant

Brighton Chagonda

Defendant

Shangwa Chaduka

Defendant

Emmanuel Gumbo

Defendant

Ekina Karimatsenga

Defendant

Robson Pepukai

Defendant

Spiwe Changuchino

Defendant

Solomon Velavelila

Defendant

W. Chiwawa

Defendant

Lovemore Muzuwa

Defendant

Willard Chikaka

Defendant

Johaness Umfana

Defendant

Stuart Mutizwa

Defendant

Ford Kachikopa

Defendant

Takundwa Gwangwadza

Defendant

Tawengwa Mamvura

Defendant

Milton Kapita

Defendant

Daniel Nyamuwe

Defendant

Eriah Chirenda

Defendant

Wilson Sigauke

Defendant

Blessing Zianda

Defendant

Athanas Mutarirano

Defendant

Golden Chemudondo

Defendant

Edias Masocha

Defendant

James Manyika

Defendant

Mukotsi Wa

Defendant

Chipo Mharadze

Defendant

Dadirayi Muchena

Defendant

Amadias Manyere

Defendant

B. Musiniwa

Defendant

Nhamo Kaitano

Defendant

Kenneth Chagonda

Defendant

Kredias Chikava

Defendant

Samuel Simango

Defendant

Tennyson Murambiwa

Defendant

Robson Mushapaidze

Defendant

O. Masaka

Defendant

Elson Mapenduka

Defendant

Stephen Mudzamiri

Defendant

Austin Madzivire

Defendant

Johnfani David Moses

Defendant

Sarah Mukute

Defendant

Gideon Saburi

Defendant

Frederick Never

Defendant

Rabsac Chemhere

Defendant

Calisto Murambatsvina

Defendant

Peter Chinungu

Defendant

Chanetsa Majuru

Defendant

Obert Mukuti

Defendant

Nixon Zinge

Defendant

Nhamo Sveto

Defendant

Peter Munzei

Defendant

Erick Timburwa

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Trial / Judgment After Consolidated Trial

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the contract between the parties was a lease or an agreement of sale
  2. 2 Whether the alleged sale agreements were valid in the absence of a subdivision permit
  3. 3 Whether any party breached the terms of the agreements

Ratio Decidendi

The absence of a subdivision permit rendered any purported sale or rent-to-buy agreement void ab initio. Defendants were tenants, not purchasers, and had no legal basis to remain in occupation without paying rent. The plaintiff was entitled to eviction. The claim for arrear rentals failed for lack of proof of quantum.

Court Disposition

Plaintiff's claim for eviction granted; claim for arrear rentals dismissed; counterclaim dismissed; costs awarded to plaintiff.

Orders

  • Defendants and all persons occupying through them to vacate the housing units within seven days.
  • Sheriff authorized to remove defendants if they fail to vacate.