News / National
Land developer, police bury hatchet
23 Mar 2022 at 05:33hrs | Views
HARARE property developing company, Eddies Pfugari Properties, has dropped a contempt of court charge it had levelled against Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga for failing to assist the deputy sheriff to execute an eviction order.
Two weeks ago, the company filed a contempt of court charge against Matanga after he allegedly declined to provide police escort to the deputy sheriff to enforce the eviction order granted by the High Court a few years ago. The company wanted to evict illegel settlers occupying its land in Whitecliff, Harare.
In the application, Eddies Pfugari Properties had cited Matanga and Dzivarasekwa officer-in-charge Judith Tinarwo as respondents.
The company lawyers, Scanlen & Holderness, argued in the application that the police did not act in accordance with the High Court order despite several written requests.
However, in a letter dated March 22, 2022, the deputy sheriff confirmed that the property developer had dropped the charges against the police after the latter undertook to provide escort.
"We confirm that in view of the undertaking by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to provide the sheriff with the required assistance in enforcing the writ of ejection, our client will not be pursuing the contempt of court application," the letter read in part.
"Accordingly, we instruct you to proceed with service of the writ of ejection as per our letter dated March 14, 2022."
Pfugari obtained an eviction order at the High Court a few years ago, but the government, through the Local Government ministry, frustrated its execution after committing to paying for the land.
After government reneged on the payment pledge, the company was left with no choice but seek the services of the sheriff of the High Court to evict the illegal settlers.
Two weeks ago, the company filed a contempt of court charge against Matanga after he allegedly declined to provide police escort to the deputy sheriff to enforce the eviction order granted by the High Court a few years ago. The company wanted to evict illegel settlers occupying its land in Whitecliff, Harare.
In the application, Eddies Pfugari Properties had cited Matanga and Dzivarasekwa officer-in-charge Judith Tinarwo as respondents.
The company lawyers, Scanlen & Holderness, argued in the application that the police did not act in accordance with the High Court order despite several written requests.
However, in a letter dated March 22, 2022, the deputy sheriff confirmed that the property developer had dropped the charges against the police after the latter undertook to provide escort.
"We confirm that in view of the undertaking by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to provide the sheriff with the required assistance in enforcing the writ of ejection, our client will not be pursuing the contempt of court application," the letter read in part.
"Accordingly, we instruct you to proceed with service of the writ of ejection as per our letter dated March 14, 2022."
Pfugari obtained an eviction order at the High Court a few years ago, but the government, through the Local Government ministry, frustrated its execution after committing to paying for the land.
After government reneged on the payment pledge, the company was left with no choice but seek the services of the sheriff of the High Court to evict the illegal settlers.
Source - NewsDay Zimbabwe
