Divorce case sheds light on farm seizures

A divorce wrangle between President Robert Mugabe's playboy nephew, Leo Mugabe, and his wife of nearly two decades, Veronica, has opened a can of worms and is revealing the extent to which Mugabe's cronies feathered their nests as Zimbabwe descended into impoverishment. Divorce papers lodged at the Harare High Court show that Leo, a member of Parliament and the eldest child of Mugabe's sister, Sabina, owns at least three large farms in Mhangura, Makonde and Banket.

Leo has previously firmly denied that he owns more than one farm. His wife wants 100% ownership of one of the farms and at least 50% ownership of another, or equivalent compensation. The third farm would remain in Leo's possession. The Sunday Independent reports that all the farms were forcibly seized from their white owners. The case brings to the fore the curse of multiple farm ownership and people close to Mugabe acquiring several farms with no benefit to the landless.