High Court Judge in Mutare, Justice Mwayera has barred
Chipinge Rural District Council (RDC) from evicting 750 families from
Munyokowere Village, in Chipangayi area, Middle Sabi following an urgent
application to stop the move.
Judge Mwayera granted the order with costs after
establishing that the respondents were trying to carry out their mission
without a valid court order.
Chipinge RDC CEO Blessing Mamvosha, Chipinge District
Development Co-coordinator William Mashava, some members of ZRP and the Army
visited Munyokowere on July 16, 2020 and gave a verbal order to the villagers
to leave the land by July 26, 2020.
The villagers who were represented by Tariro Tazvitya of
Bere and Brothers supported by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
immediately applied for a relief at the High Court.
“Respondents are hereby interdicted from evicting
applicants and demolishing their homes in Munyokowere Village. Respondents are
hereby interdicted from threatening or harassing applicants. Respondents be and
are hereby ordered to pay cost of suit,” read the order.
Allan Muronza, a local governance expert accused well
connected civil servants of trying to wrestle the land from the villagers and
parcel it among themselves.
The respondents were Chipinge RDC, Minister of Home Affairs
and Cultural Heritage, Minister of Defense and War Veterans and Minister of
Land, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. Masvingo Mirror
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