High Court stops demolitions

The High Court has ordered the Harare City Council to stop demolitions of houses located in Budiriro 4 high density suburb without a court order authorising such action.

The court order was granted following an application by three Budiriro 4 residents represented by Belinda Chinowawa from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

The trio of Tawanda Mukungurutse, Patrick Chikohora and Cledwyn Mutete, cited the City of Harare and Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere as respondents and they sought the barring of the local authority from unconstitutionally demolishing residents houses.

Justice Francis Bere granted the order in his chambers.

The first applicant Mukungurutse told the court that he joined Tembwe Housing Cooperative in 2010, and was advised by the chairman of the association that the group had acquired land from the Harare City Council in Budiriro 4.