Zanu-PF youths defies the High Court, reoccupy church land

Hundreds of Zanu-PF youths yesterday defied a High Court order and besieged the Anglican Church land in Chitungwiza where they maintained the disputed property should be parceled out to them.

The youths gathered at the land in question from 9am where they said they were expecting to be addressed by their party leaders. The High Court last week granted the Anglican Church an order to remove the youths from its land.

Recently, nearly 1 000 youths disrupted a church service at St Mary's Parish and held hostage the congregants as they claimed the church unlawfully acquired the land during the colonial era.

After the High Court ruling, order prevailed, but the youths yesterday mobilised to reclaim the land.

Already, some of the invaders have dug foundations and brought bricks at the disputed land as they move towards construction of structures.

Reports indicated that graders will be moving in soon to clear the land to pave way for total acquisition of the land.

"This is our land and we are going nowhere," one of the youths declared.