Caretaker Accused of Seizing Employer’s Rural Home Sparks Dispute in Mutasa Community Court

HARARE – A Marondera-based man has approached a traditional court after allegedly losing control of his rural homestead to a caretaker he had employed and allowed to live on the property rent-free. The dispute, now before Chief Mutasa’s Community Court, involves Samuel Nyambudzi and his former house help, Shelton Toro, whom he accuses of unlawfully taking over the property.

Nyambudzi told the court that he hired Toro as a caretaker to safeguard his rural home while he lived and worked in Marondera with his family.

“I told him that he would stay just like my son. His duty was simply to be a caretaker,” Nyambudzi said.

He added that Toro was allowed to stay on the property rent-free and was later given an allowance for upkeep. However, the relationship reportedly deteriorated after Toro’s dismissal.

“He now denies me access to my home. I went there last Tuesday, and he locked me out as if I were an intruder,” Nyambudzi told the court. “For five days, I could not sleep in my own home.”

The dispute has also affected Nyambudzi’s son, John Nyambudzi, who had been tasked with overseeing projects at the rural homestead.

“My father instructed me to take charge of our rural home. I started a banana plantation project there, but everything has changed,” he said. “He no longer listens to us. He walks around with the keys and acts as if we are working for him. He will not let us work on our own land.”

Toro, however, dismissed the accusations, maintaining that he had not barred the family from accessing the property.

“I never chased him away,” he said. “Yes, I lock the door, but everyone has their own key. He should be able to unlock it with his key.”

He also reportedly claimed that he was owed money, an assertion Nyambudzi disputes.

Presiding over the matter, Chief Mutasa expressed concern over the breakdown of trust between the parties.

“This is a situation that can escalate if not addressed properly,” the chief said.

In a preliminary ruling, the court directed the Nyambudzi family to reclaim control of their property by retrieving the house keys and restoring full access. The court also instructed that Toro be paid any outstanding dues, if applicable, to prevent further grievances.

Chief Mutasa said the matter remains unresolved and will require further investigation to determine the root cause of the conflict. Legal analyst Farai Zhou said such disputes are becoming increasingly common in rural Zimbabwe.

“In informal employment arrangements, especially involving caretakers, the absence of written agreements often leads to disputes over rights and obligations,” he said.

Cases involving caretaker disputes and informal occupancy arrangements have been on the rise, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas where property management is often entrusted to individuals without formal contracts. Experts warn that property owners should formalise agreements to avoid misunderstandings that can escalate into legal or traditional court battles. As the case continues, the outcome could set an important precedent for similar disputes being handled in traditional courts across Zimbabwe.

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