THE Chitungwiza Residents’ Trust (Chitrest) has said recent threats by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister Ignatius Chombo to raze down houses allegedly built illegally in Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural have emboldened the affected residents.
BY STAFF REPORTER
Chombo met with the residents’ representatives last week during a consultative meeting where stakeholders were supposed to discuss the way forward with regard to the land scam that has continued to haunt the town.
After the meeting, he gave a directive that the houses be demolished with 21 days.
The residents have since approached the courts to stop the demolitions.
The lawyer for the residents, Marufu Mandevere, said judgment in the matter was expected to be delivered on Thursday.
The residents argued that Chombo’s directive was “null, void and prejudicial” because the matter was still before the Chitungwiza Magistrates’ Court.
“The political threats targeted at mainly civil society organisations defending human rights, especially residents’ institutions and in particular, Chitrest, which is opposed to the government-planned demolitions of the so-called illegal houses, is highly mischievous and misdirected,” said Chitrest in a statement last week.
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“No amount of threats, be it political or otherwise, will derail Chitrest in its efforts to lawfully defend the lifetime investments of the residents of Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural.”
The residents implored Chombo to make a public apology and withdraw his statement which they said was “nonsensical” and in contravention of Section 74 of the Zimbabwe Constitution which protects citizens from eviction from their homes or having their homes demolished without a court order to that effect.
Chombo decided to have the houses demolished during a council budget meeting which was also attended by ministers Saviour Kasukuwere (Environment), Sithembiso Nyoni (Small to Medium Enterprises) and Local Government deputy minister Biggie Matiza.
