LOCAL Government and National Housing deputy minister Joel Biggie Matiza yesterday said housing disputes should be resolved amicably without resorting to evictions.
Staff Reporter
He was responding to reports that scores of people were being kicked out of their houses in Chitungwiza by House of Assembly member for Chitungwiza South Christopher Chigumba over payment disputes.
Chigumba, who claims to own Zano Remba Co-operative that built the houses from members’ contributions, is allegedly demanding $5 000 cash from beneficiaries in addition to what they contributed over the years
Contacted for comment on what government was doing following the eviction of nine families, Matiza said: “That is a case which is now in the courts between the two parties hence we cannot comment. We have to wait for the outcome of the court proceedings, but all we want is for people to solve their issues amicably and not having to throw each other out.”
Nine families have so far been evicted and have for the past two weeks been sleeping in the open.
More than 300 other families have also been threatened with eviction.
The families accuse Chigumba of abusing his powers as patron of Zano Remba Housing Co-operative and taking the co-operative from them for his personal aggrandisement, a charge which he denies.
