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Pamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
THERE was drama at Bulawayo’s Westgate compound yesterday when more than 60 families resisted eviction by the Messenger of Court after the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) resolved to forcibly throw them out of their rented accommodation.
The houses, which the tenants have been occupying for many years, belong to the parastatal.
When Chronicle visited the suburb in the morning, at least 10 officials from the Messenger of Court, clad in blue work suits, were busy throwing property out of the houses.
Defiant families, however, returned the property into their houses saying they would only agree to vacate the houses if the NRZ gives them $35 000 each.
The Chronicle news crew observed a terminally ill woman from one of the houses being dragged outside as the officers continued with their work.
The affected people include NRZ workers, former workers, widows and orphans.
The Messenger of Court officials had to leave and seek assistance from the police after the fuming tenants continued to take their properties back into the houses.
“We are not going anywhere. We have been living in these houses for a long time and we were promised that the houses would eventually belong to us if the company fails to give us our money.
“We were shocked when we received notices on Monday to vacate the houses without reasons,” said Mr David Mubayiwa.
He went on: “Several NRZ employees from all over the country have benefited from these houses with others having the privilege of renting out the quarters. Some of the houses were even sold to non-NRZ workers.”
Armed with signed documents, Mr Mubayiwa said it was agreed through the workers’ trade unions in 2003 that the parastatal would only evict its employees after compensating them.
He said NRZ agreed to dispose of the houses.
“We all indicated that we were interested in buying the houses. We were actually expecting to receive title deeds for these houses in our names not notices of eviction.
“The agreement indicated that the NRZ houses in Bulawayo would be valued at $35 000, while those in Harare would be $40 000. Gweru, Mutare, Kadoma and Kwekwe houses were valued at $30 000 and the houses in smaller urban centres were valued at $25 000,” said Mr Mubayiwa.
The occupants said they were poor because of NRZ and vowed to resist eviction.
Mrs Abigail Zvavamwe said she would not give her house to anyone.
“This is not the first time NRZ is doing this. Right now they are damaging our property and using the same money that should be paying the workers to pay the Messenger of Court,” she said adding: “NRZ knows very well that these houses are ours. We know that there are some corrupt senior officials who want to sell the houses to their relatives. The responsible ministry must intervene and resolve this issue because this is not fair.”
A former NRZ worker Mr Solomon Sibanda said: “These people are pushing us out of our houses because they have strong muscles. They are refusing to give us our money and now they are kicking us into the streets. It’s either we get our money or these houses,” said Mr Sibanda.
NRZ public relations manager Mr Fanuel Masikati said proper channels were followed in evicting the tenants.
He said: “After due and proper considerations, the honourable court granted NRZ an eviction consent. By this order the Messenger of Court is effective.”
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