Peter Makani, Thomas Marumise, Goronga Nyagwete, Elliot Sithole, Clever Ngirazi and Rose Munava had their houses demolished last month in a manner that they claim constituted inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of the Constitution.
They are being represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. The Minister of Local Government, Ignatius Chombo, the Co-Ministers of the Home affairs Kembo Mohadi, and Theresa Makone and Attorney General Johannes Tomana are named as respondents.
ZLHR is alleging that ELB did not give its clients notice or reason for displacement when it caused the destruction of their structures.
“The Stopover settlement, Ruware area and Solani settlements in Epworth were started with no formal planning and none of these informal houses, known as Magada, were ever destroyed. This modus operandi of the Epworth Local Board that motivated us to seek an open space and build our homes,” reads Munava’s founding affidavit statement.
Makani and the others hope the state will compensate them $10,000 each.
“The ELB should be barred from carrying out any evictions or destruction of houses in Epworth without affording the affected persons due notice. The ELB and ZRP should not interfere or hinder the applicants’ efforts to rebuild their houses in the Stoob area and they should pay the cost of this application,” adds the affidavit statement.
Hardly a fortnight ago, Sunway City Company, escorted by ZRP, destroyed about 250 homes saying they were built on private land.
Post published in: News