News / Local
War vets who invaded Castle Arms Motel to be evicted
19 Apr 2015 at 07:10hrs | Views
NITRAM Investment Holdings, a Zipra war veterans company is seeking the eviction of three war veterans who allegedly invaded the company owned Castle Arms Motel in Richmond Bulawayo.
The three war veterans are reportedly using the premises for chicken keeping venture without the company's authority. The three war veterans who fought under Zipra cited in the letter of eviction are Sinikiwe Siwela, Mavis Nhliziyo and Sikhululekile Ngwenya and they invaded the Motel as members of the under the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) led by Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Nitram Holdings lawyer Vuyile Mpofu yesterday confirmed that he has since served the three invaders with the letter of eviction but they ignored it.
"That property is for all war veterans who fought under Zipra who contributed to the properties. It is not meant to benefit an individual and just for a person to settle in it illegal is not proper," said Mpofu.
"You cannot say I am a Zipra then I must settle in a property which is run by a company board to benefit all members. We wrote them the eviction letter and they ignored. We are yet to serve them with summons to seek their eviction through the courts soon."
A letter dated February 11, 2015 addressed to the three which described their action as illegal written by Nitram lawyer states that the Motel is owned by the company and the three have without permission started chicken rearing venture on the premises.
"Efforts to get you vacate have so far failed to bear fruit and you have even reported Nitram officials to the police," wrote Mpofu.
"The police have unfortunately been unwilling to protect our clients' rights, it is not clear why that should be so."
The letter also say what brings sadness to the whole saga is that the war veterans who are also former Zipra members are aware of the history of Nitram.
"You are aware that combatants pooled their resources to secure a future for themselves and their families by buying properties," wrote Mpofu.
"Nitram properties were not bought for the benefit of few individuals but for all shareholders. We are instructed to demand and we hereby do that you vacate Castle Arms property within seven days from receipt of this letter."
"Should you fail to do so we have instructions to pursue other legal options to protect the rights of the owners of the property," Mpofu wrote.
Yesterday Mpofu said since the three illegal settlers at the Motel have not responded to the eviction letter he will be filing summons to seeking their eviction through the courts.
Castle Arms is one of the Zipra properties which were bought by the Zapu military wing at independence through the advice of the former liberation party leader and late Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo to assist the ex-combatants eke a living.
Most of the properties were taken by Zanu PF government at the height of Gukurahundi in the 1980s and the war veterans are still fighting to reacquire them. Government has remained mum over the issue no matter how continuous the Zipra cadres have made noise about the properties 35 years after the country gained independence.
The three war veterans are reportedly using the premises for chicken keeping venture without the company's authority. The three war veterans who fought under Zipra cited in the letter of eviction are Sinikiwe Siwela, Mavis Nhliziyo and Sikhululekile Ngwenya and they invaded the Motel as members of the under the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) led by Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Nitram Holdings lawyer Vuyile Mpofu yesterday confirmed that he has since served the three invaders with the letter of eviction but they ignored it.
"That property is for all war veterans who fought under Zipra who contributed to the properties. It is not meant to benefit an individual and just for a person to settle in it illegal is not proper," said Mpofu.
"You cannot say I am a Zipra then I must settle in a property which is run by a company board to benefit all members. We wrote them the eviction letter and they ignored. We are yet to serve them with summons to seek their eviction through the courts soon."
A letter dated February 11, 2015 addressed to the three which described their action as illegal written by Nitram lawyer states that the Motel is owned by the company and the three have without permission started chicken rearing venture on the premises.
"Efforts to get you vacate have so far failed to bear fruit and you have even reported Nitram officials to the police," wrote Mpofu.
The letter also say what brings sadness to the whole saga is that the war veterans who are also former Zipra members are aware of the history of Nitram.
"You are aware that combatants pooled their resources to secure a future for themselves and their families by buying properties," wrote Mpofu.
"Nitram properties were not bought for the benefit of few individuals but for all shareholders. We are instructed to demand and we hereby do that you vacate Castle Arms property within seven days from receipt of this letter."
"Should you fail to do so we have instructions to pursue other legal options to protect the rights of the owners of the property," Mpofu wrote.
Yesterday Mpofu said since the three illegal settlers at the Motel have not responded to the eviction letter he will be filing summons to seeking their eviction through the courts.
Castle Arms is one of the Zipra properties which were bought by the Zapu military wing at independence through the advice of the former liberation party leader and late Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo to assist the ex-combatants eke a living.
Most of the properties were taken by Zanu PF government at the height of Gukurahundi in the 1980s and the war veterans are still fighting to reacquire them. Government has remained mum over the issue no matter how continuous the Zipra cadres have made noise about the properties 35 years after the country gained independence.
Source - Byo24News
