MCM Legal

09/06/2026

Legal Discussions with Vengai Madzima: Inheritance Procedures for Farmland in in Zimbabwe

Almost 26 years after the land reform program began, succession disputes over farming land are rising as initial beneficiaries pass away.

The discussion explores the following:

• How does Zimbabwean estate law handle agricultural land?
• What is the difference between A1 and A2 farm inheritance?
• Can an offer letter or 99-year lease be automatically passed down in a Will?
• What is the role of an executor when dealing with State-allocated land?
• What are the strict timelines required to regularise farm succession?

Read the full discussion here:

NewZimbabwe.com has invited Mr. Vengai Madzima, the Senior Partner at Madzima Chidyausiku Museta Legal Practitioners (MCM Legal), to discuss with us legal issues that affect Zimbabweans. The discussions are of a general nature; those seeking specific legal advice should consult their lawyer. Reporte...

09/06/2026

9 June


Zimbabwe: Navigating Multi-Currency Contractual Illegality and Unjust Enrichment

On 9 June 2009, the formal filing of the high-stakes chamber application in Edson Mudzivo and Emily Mudzivo v Norest Nyamakope (HH 120-09) catalysed a foundational jurisprudential assessment of contractual breakdown amidst severe macroeconomic volatility. The case arose from a real estate transaction disrupted by the collapse of the original Zimbabwean dollar, forcing the High Court to confront the boundaries of judicial intervention in partially performed, unauthorised multi-currency agreements.

The enduring legal significance of this matter lies in the court's rigorous application of the in pari delicto potior est conditio defendantis rule and the equitable doctrine of unjust enrichment. The litigation provided a structural template for evaluating transactions executed outside formal regulatory channels during monetary transitions. For jurisdictions navigating multi-currency frameworks and evolving statutory tenders, the jurisprudence established in the wake of this filing dictates the exact parameters under which a court will step in to balance equities versus when it will leave losses where they fall in an illegal or frustrated contract.

08/06/2026

8 June


Zimbabwe
Currency of Damages & Constitutional Dualism in Labour Law

The High Court of Zimbabwe issued its landmark judgement in Gift Bob David Samanyau & 38 Ors v. Fleximail (Private) Limited (HC 108-11), a long-running dispute involving 39 employees unlawfully dismissed in 2005.

Legal Significance: While the Labour Court had previously ordered reinstatement or damages, the legal triumph of this High Court ruling was its economic realism: the court ruled that the former employees were entitled to be compensated in United States Dollars (USD) rather than the "moribund" Zimbabwean dollar, fundamentally altering how cross-currency employment damages were assessed during the hyperinflationary transition.

The judgement remains a classic text for dualist constitutional philosophy. To determine adequacy of compensation, the court navigated Section 111B of the old Constitution, affirming that international instruments, specifically Article 10 of the ILO Convention No. 158 (Termination of Employment Convention, 1982), do not automatically form part of Zimbabwean domestic law unless explicitly incorporated by an Act of Parliament.

31/05/2026

31 May


On 31 May 2019, the Marriages Bill was gazetted with the purpose of consolidating and modernising marriage law by addressing civil, customary and unregistered customary unions under one statute.

It addressed legal gaps around child marriages and the status of unregistered customary marriages.

This Bill became the Marriages Act [Chapter 5:15] in 2022.

30/05/2026

30 May


On 30 May 2019, the Freedom of Information Bill was gazetted.

The purpose was to give effect to Section 62 of the Constitution on access to information held by the state and public bodies. It was meant to replace the restrictive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act AIPPA. The Bill later became the Freedom of Information Act [Chapter 10:33] in 2020.

29/05/2026

29 May


On 29 May 2019, the Coroner’s Office Bill was gazetted.

The bill sought to establish an independent Coroner’s Office to investigate unnatural and sudden deaths. It replaced the outdated coroner system run through magistrates' courts.

28/05/2026

28 May


On 28 May 2019, the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill was gazetted. The parliament amended the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act to align with FATF standards and close gaps in financial crime enforcement.

The Bill introduced stronger customer due diligence, reporting obligations and asset forfeiture provisions.

27/05/2026

27 May


27 May, 2021 New York Times freelancer journalist Jeffrey Moyo was arrested and charged with violating Section 36 of the Immigration Act. The charge included allegations of helping foreign journalists obtain false accreditations. The legal issue related to Media freedom vs state security.

26/05/2026

26 May


On 26 May 2016, the Joint Venture Act came into force. The Act provided a legal framework for public-private partnerships and joint ventures in Zimbabwe.

The Act defined and clarified key categories of Joint Ventures, which include but are not limited to build-operate-transfer and build-own-operate, and set rules for procurement and risk-sharing.

The purpose of the Act is to unlock investment in infrastructure and revive underperforming parastatals.

26/05/2026

25 May


On 25 May 2011, the UK Supreme Court handed down a judgement involving a Zimbabwean national in the case Shepherd Masimba Kambadzi v Secretary of State for the Home Department. The Zimbabwean national had been detained using immigration powers.

The legal issue was the unlawful detention and the duty to act with reasonable diligence in deportation cases. The Court clarified that detention without reasonable prospects of removal within a reasonable time is unlawful.