NRZ evictees camp out in the open

Chronicle Reporter
FAMILIES of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) workers have been sleeping outside their rented houses at the Westgate compound since Friday as they wait for their employer to heed the call by the Minister of State for Bulawayo, Cde Nomthandazo Moyo to reinstate them.
More than 60 families had their properties moved out of their rented accommodation by the Messenger of Court after NRZ resolved to forcibly throw them out.

They were, however, resisting eviction from the houses, which belong to the parastatal, saying they would only agree to leave if NRZ gives them $35 000 each.

When Chronicle visited the compound yesterday a majority of the evicted families were still outside the empty houses with their property while a few had looked for alternative accommodation.

Some were cooking their meals outside while others were cooking and bathing at their neighbours’ and friends’ houses.
The disgruntled families said they were waiting for NRZ to heed Minister Moyo’s call to allow them to move back into the houses.
“The Messenger of Court moved our properties outside and left us with nowhere to go. We understand Minister Moyo will hold a meeting with NRZ management tomorrow and we want to follow the procedures.

“We will patiently wait for NRZ to allow us back into the houses because we do not want to be caught on the wrong side of the law,” said Mr David Mubayiwa, one of the evicted people.

He added: “We have no choice but to stay outside   the houses until something positive happens. If NRZ gives us the money it owes us, we will happily leave.

“NRZ agreed to sell its houses and thousands of employees from all over the country benefited. We must not be an exception.”
Mr Mubayiwa said they were paying $110 each to NRZ for the houses, which were condemned 10 years ago due to dilapidation.
Another evictee,  Ms Antineliah Matope said the families were grateful that Minister Moyo intervened in the matter, but appealed to NRZ to solve the issue once and for all.

“We are happy that our Minister has ordered NRZ to reinstate us, but we will leave in fear of  being evicted again. On Friday it was not the first time to be evicted. We are tired of being treated like criminals.

“Instead of repairing and maintaining these old and dilapidated houses, NRZ is busy paying the Messenger of Court to harass us. May this issue be solved once and for all,” she said.

She added: “If they give us the money they owe us we will go, but if they do not have our money, they must give us title deeds so that we repair the houses on our own and stay peacefully.”

NRZ public relations manager, Mr Fanuel Masikati on Friday said the court granted the parastatal an eviction consent after due and proper considerations.