Sikhumbuzo Moyo
A 61-YEAR-OLD woman was left watching helplessly as four men allegedly stormed her Bulawayo home and dumped her belongings onto the street in a dramatic eviction that occurred on Thursday.
Ms Jane Gumbo, who says she has lived at the house since 1985, was allegedly thrown out of the property at the corner of 13th Avenue and Samuel Parirenyatwa Street.
She alleged that eviction was led by Shakespeare Maya, a former leader of the now-defunct National Alliance for Good Governance, who is married to her sister.
The eviction has sparked a bitter family and property dispute, with Ms Gumbo insisting that the matter is still before the courts after she appealed against a judgment handed down on October 21 this year.
She alleges that the judgment was obtained through misrepresentation and was being challenged when the men arrived to remove her belongings.
“The matter went to court where a judgment was passed based on their misrepresentation to court. Judgment was passed on October 21 this year and I appealed against it. The matter is still before the courts but today I saw a group of men storming the house and throwing my property into the street,” said a visibly distressed Ms Gumbo.
When approached for comment, Maya declined to discuss the matter.
“I have no business to talk to the media, get away from here and go look for news somewhere,” he said.
In court papers, Dr Maya, who was the applicant, argued that the property had initially been occupied by his late in-laws with his consent and without paying rent.
He told the court that after his mother-in-law died in 2009, his father-in-law continued occupying the property until his death in 2014, while Ms Gumbo had no independent right to remain there.
However, death certificates reportedly show that Ms Gumbo’s mother died on May 26, 2005, while her father died on February 6, 2013, dates which differ from those cited in Dr Maya’s court papers.
