The hapless residents, whose property is currently strewn by the roadside to the Harare International Airport, even had their cooking utensils and property smashed as they were hastily commandeered out of the flats by the deputy sheriff. Most of the victims were already surviving from day to day, and this action puts lives at risk. The action followed the transfer of ownership of the flat from one Mr Cronwick to government tax collector, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, ZimRA.
A strong police force with riot shields and batons was said to have stood by as the deputy sheriff evicted the hapless tenants in a bid to subdue resistance from the residents.
This eviction made many poor tenants immediately homeless, according to the spokesperson of the tenants, Elphas Tavagadza. He told The Zimbabwean the tenants have sought the intervention of Housing minister Ignatius Chombo, “to stop this senseless and inhumane eviction.”
“The government is supposed to provide housing to its people not hound them of their homes,” he said. “We are not resisting eviction but we feel due process should have been followed.”
The sight of evicted tenants huddled along the Harare International Airport road is a public relations disaster for the government.
Efforts to obtain comment from ZimRA boss Gershom Pasi were futile. But The Zimbabwean understands the flat has been cleared to hand the houses to senior ZimRA bosses.
In most instances, these officials already own multiple properties and usually sub-let these properties in forex. Most of the evictees are poor people who have been living from hand to mouth. Many are unskilled workers and petty street traders.
But they said they were willing to pay whatever rentals the new landlord was demanding. ZimRA would have none of that and has demanded that they leave forthwith.
Post published in: News