adminNyore Madzianike Manicaland Bureau
ILLEGAL settlers occupying an open space in the sprawling high-density suburb of Chikanga in Mutare have been ordered by the High Court to vacate the piece of land before the year ends. The illegal settlers have been given until December 31 to vacate.
Mutare City Council has since indicated that it would engage the Deputy Sheriff to forcefully remove them in the event that they fail to abide by the High Court order. Speaking during a full council meeting on Thursday, Mutare City Council chamber secretary Mr Cephas Vuta said the court’s decision had been already communicated to the illegal settlers.
“We have since received a judgment in which the court has ordered the illegal settlers to vacate before December 31,” said Mr Vuta.
Mr Vuta said the piece of land they were occupying was not meant for residential purposes. He said the other part of the land which was being occupied by the illegal settlers was a railway reserve.
“If they do not comply with the court order, we will seek the services of the Deputy Sheriff to forcefully evict them. They should not be allowed to stay there. It is dangerous for their lives as it is also a railway reserve. The area is not meant for residential purposes,” said Mr Vuta.
Mutare Ward 9 Councillor Crispen Dube suggested that some illegal settlers should not be evicted from pieces of land they would be occupying, as council should find solutions to such problems.
Clr Dube said there were other illegal settlers in Mutare who were also ordered to vacate the pieces of land, but had not been moved.
“We have some places where judgments ordered for their vacation and nothing has been done. What is so peculiar about those in Chikanga. We should solve the problems as council and help these people,” he said.
Mr Vuta said the illegal settlers in Chikanga would should be evicted since their case was different from other matters Clr Dube was referring to. Commenting on the issue after the meeting, Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa appealed for intervention from Government.
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