News / National
Eviction of Chomufuli Villagers violation of Human Rights
01 Oct 2015 at 06:27hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has expressed dismay over the latest attempts by Masvingo Provincial Minister, Shuvai Mahofa, to eject 22 families from Chomufuli Farm in Gutu.
"ZimRights wishes to remind the minister that after an earlier attempt to evict the families by the army at 4.2 Infrantry Battalion in June this year, an peace order staying the eviction was granted by a competent court in favour of the villagers," ZimRights National Director, Okay Machisa said in a statement.
"The recent ultimatum Mahofa gave the villagers to move out by October 1, 2015, as reported by the News Day of Tuesday, September 29, 2015, amounts to the Minister taking the law into her hands, and thumping her noise at both the country's constitution, and courts.
Section 74 of the Constitution, which is part of Section 4 that contains the Bill of Rights, speaks clearly that citizens have the freedom from arbitrary eviction without a valid court order."
He said such an act of arbitrary eviction, against a court order, which is a blatant disregard of the rule of law cannot be expected from a public official, whose oath of office is to serve the people and the constitution of Zimbabwe.
"The arbitrary eviction if effected will doubtlessly violate the fundamental rights of the families, who include women and children, especially right to shelter and dignity," said Machisa.
"It is important to note that the families said they were legally settled at the farm as evidenced by their possession of certificates of occupation for those allocated model A1 farms and offer letters for those with A2 farms. ZimRights will continue to speak out against arbitrary evictions of citizens from land on which they are settled and violation of human rights in the country."
"ZimRights wishes to remind the minister that after an earlier attempt to evict the families by the army at 4.2 Infrantry Battalion in June this year, an peace order staying the eviction was granted by a competent court in favour of the villagers," ZimRights National Director, Okay Machisa said in a statement.
"The recent ultimatum Mahofa gave the villagers to move out by October 1, 2015, as reported by the News Day of Tuesday, September 29, 2015, amounts to the Minister taking the law into her hands, and thumping her noise at both the country's constitution, and courts.
Section 74 of the Constitution, which is part of Section 4 that contains the Bill of Rights, speaks clearly that citizens have the freedom from arbitrary eviction without a valid court order."
He said such an act of arbitrary eviction, against a court order, which is a blatant disregard of the rule of law cannot be expected from a public official, whose oath of office is to serve the people and the constitution of Zimbabwe.
"The arbitrary eviction if effected will doubtlessly violate the fundamental rights of the families, who include women and children, especially right to shelter and dignity," said Machisa.
"It is important to note that the families said they were legally settled at the farm as evidenced by their possession of certificates of occupation for those allocated model A1 farms and offer letters for those with A2 farms. ZimRights will continue to speak out against arbitrary evictions of citizens from land on which they are settled and violation of human rights in the country."
Source - Byo24News
