adminZvikomborero Parafini
OVER 40 families in Chitungwiza face eviction, while their homes could be demolished, as Massmore Investments (Pvt) Ltd is claiming the same land allocated to the homeowners by the municipality.
Eighteen of the affected homeowners have approached the High Court to seek an urgent halt to the demolitions.
Lovemore Chitsuro, one of the residents, said he was lawfully allocated his stand and was shocked to hear the land was marked for demolition pursuant to a court order he knew nothing about.
The High Court Sheriff was authorised to demolish the homes by Justice Gladys Mhuri, but operations have been suspended due to appeals to the Supreme Court.
Chitsuro said he was issued with an offer letter, and lease agreement for his stand, measuring 800 square metres in Manyame Park by Chitungwiza Municipality.
“This application, therefore, seeks to bar the 3rd respondents (High Court Sheriff) from effecting demolitions against my property as I was not part of that court order nor did I get occupation through the parties cited in that court order. The Sheriff’s action is very imminent given the fact that we were notified of their intention to demolish and subsequent to that notice other structures belonging to our neighbours were demolished despite the fact that they were, like us, not part and parcel of the court order that was granted in favour of Massmore Investments,” Chitsuro said.
He said on November 15, they engaged the Sheriff, through their representatives, and were advised that their properties would be demolished since they fall under the stand numbers that were declared to belong to Massmore Investments.
“We vehemently dispute this fact.
“However, that alone at this juncture does not seem to prevent the Sheriff, who advised us, through our representatives, that the demolitions will go ahead as planned.
“Unless urgent relief is granted, we risk having our homes destroyed and we risk becoming homeless during this deadly cholera period, yet we are in lawful occupation.”
Chitsuro said he was issued with an offer letter on condition he paid $23 930 and he complied. He said he was issued with a lease agreement in September 2020, which cemented his rights to the stand. All this, Chitsuro said, was done through the Chitungwiza Municipality and he complied with all council requirements.
Online Reporter