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Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
Whitecliff Farm residents yesterday blocked the deputy sheriff from evicting them to pave way for demolition of their houses.
Property mogul Mr Edward Pfugari recently won a court battle to evict people resettled on his farm, which is near Kuwadzana Extension in Harare.
The protesting residents danced and held up placards denouncing Mr Pfugari as they vowed not to vacate.
They have been living at Whitecliff for the past 14 years.
Mr Pfugari won a case against Government last year over settlement on the property and served residents with a High Court order to vacate the farm by December 18, 2013.
The farm belonged to Mr Pfugari of Eddies Pfugari Properties before Government compulsorily acquired it and allocated it to home-seekers.
Mr Pfugari unsuccessfully contested the acquisition at the Administrative Court and appealed in the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court ordered the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement and residents to vacate the property.
After that ruling, Government published a notice expressing its intention to acquire the remainder of Whitecliff Farm for urban development.
Among the properties set for demolition were Knights Junior School and another school on the farm.
“The messenger came to evict people and mainly targeted two schools and other houses in the area. We were given these stands by Government. Some of us paid US$5 000 for a stand while others simply benefited.
“The deputy sheriff came with police details who said they wanted to enforce the law. The sheriff said they wanted to remove the pipes used to service the land by R Davis Construction and move them to the highway. People blocked them from doing so,” said Mr Andrew Neshamba, a resident of Whitecliff. He said residents decided to unite and stop Mr Pfugari. Another resident, Mrs Beauty Mubaiwa, said it was the third time that Mr Pfugari had tried to evict them from the land and urged Government to address the issue.
“We have been living here for 14 years but we do not know what will become of our houses. Government should address the issue once and for all,” she said.
Mr Chengetai Nyabadza said residents were paying Government US$50 annually for tenure on the land.
“We have already developed this land and built permanent structures and we expect Government to intervene.”
The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing is understood to be engaging Mr Pfugari over the impasse, while the Lands and Rural Resettlement Ministry has since conceded it erred when gazetting that land for acquisition.
National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo could not comment on the issue yesterday saying he was on leave. He resumes work today.
The Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Retired Colonel Joseph Mhakayakora, could also not comment.
Government built 300 houses at Whitecliff during operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle while thousands of other residential stands were issued out.
Online Reporter