Evicted Warwick Farm families left in the cold

Dozens of families at Warwick Farm in Zvimba district, near Lake Chivero, have been left homeless and sleeping in the open after demolitions carried out under a High Court order destroyed homes in the settlement, triggering a humanitarian crisis amid winter conditions.

Residents say the operation has left vulnerable groups - including children, pregnant women and the elderly - exposed to harsh cold nights, with many now relying on makeshift shelters, plastic sheeting and open fires to survive.

The demolitions stem from a court ruling in the matter of Levison Zvirevo & Others v Warwickshire (Private) Limited (HCH 1206/25), which authorised the sheriff of the High Court to attach and remove movable property from the disputed land. Legal practitioners acting for Warwickshire (Pvt) Ltd reportedly instructed enforcement of the judgment debt.

However, the timing and execution of the demolitions have sparked outrage among affected families, many of whom claim they have occupied the land since the early 2000s under Zimbabwe's land reform programme.

"We are living like refugees in our own country," said one resident, adding that families are now spending nights outdoors without adequate shelter.

Others say the cold weather has worsened conditions, with reports of illness emerging among displaced households.

The dispute has also raised fears within the community, with some local leaders reportedly going into hiding amid concerns over possible arrests linked to the case.

Legal representative Herbert Zvidzai Chinyani of Chiturumani Law Chambers, acting for some of the settlers, argued that the demolitions were carried out while key legal questions over ownership of the land remain unresolved.

He said the actions may amount to contempt of court, noting that an urgent chamber application had been filed seeking a stay of execution while related proceedings continue.

According to court filings, the disputed land - Warwick Farm - is referenced in Ministry of Lands records as having been acquired by the State under General Notice 418A of 2000 and later reaffirmed under General Notice 288 of 2014, with the legal status of the property still under consideration in ongoing proceedings.

The Ministry of Lands documentation is being relied upon by the settlers to argue that the land remains classified as State land, complicating the ownership claims at the centre of the dispute.

As legal battles continue, displaced families remain in limbo, with no immediate clarity on whether they will be allowed to return or be permanently relocated.