Zanu PF Councilor Threatens To Demolish Epworth Homes, Residents Approach Lawyers

EPWORTH: Residents of Sunway city and Pentagon have sought the assistance of the Zimbabwe lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) as they try to stop the local board from demolishing their homes.

According to Epworth Residents Development Association (ERDA), at the weekend, the local board notified thousands of residents residing in the two areas that they should vacate, failure of which, the authority will proceed to demolish all houses.

A similar incident happened in the same shanty suburb last year and was blocked by the High Court following ZLHR intervention.

Harare city council argues that most of the houses in the affected areas were built on illegal sites.

But the law says government must apply to the courts seeking for permission to demolish people’s houses before forcibly evicting them.

It also says the affected must be given alternative accommodation, compensate, and be provided with security at the new site.

Epworth residents told NewZimbabwe.com in Harare Monday that a local councillor, one Hasimon Shadaya (Zanu PF), is leading the planned demolitions.

“He is moving around with a team of known Zanu PF supporters in the so-called ‘regularization’ of residential stands process.

“They are physically subdividing existing residential properties and telling us that demolitions are coming,” said one resident.

In the process, residents claim, “outsiders” are being brought in and are given land while at same time others are being told that their homes are going to be razed down.

“Those being targeted are those who have been vocal against corruption and have been accused of mobilising other residents to resist the subdivisions and all this is happening to residents who have lodger’s cards issued by the local board and have been paying rates,” said another resident.

Harare Metropolitan Residents Forum (HAMREF) spokesperson Marvellous Khumalo confirmed the development, saying they will fight for the residents.

“We strongly condemn the on-going housing demolitions and the Forum will continue to fight these cases in the courts of law,” he said.  source-newzimbabwe