HARARE - Mbare ward 4 residents have been living in fear of losing their houses after purported Zanu PF cadres have been illegally repossessing homes.
The residents claim that Zanu PF district chairperson Modern Chirwa is behind the scheme which targets mostly the elderly, widows and orphans in the area.
One resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the repossessing is something that officials at the Harare City Council (HCC) are privy to.
“The masterminds behind taking the vulnerable peoples’ homes is Chirwa, councillor Innocent Maseko and one Mrs Mandizha who works at the HCC Remembrance drive offices,”
“They work in cohorts to take the homes and make people destitute without even compensating them or giving them alternative places to stay,” he said.
An HCC rates statement dated November 19, 2013, shows that one Kudakwashe Tavirima resides at 15 Harare Road South, Mbare, however, a City of Harare statement indicates that Annah Gahadzikwa is the rightful owner of the house.
Gahadzikwa, who was evicted from her house unduly, had to seek refuge at to her rural home because she had nowhere else to go.
She had initially taken Tavirima to the civil magistrates’ court seeking a peace order but was advised to seek an eviction notice instead.
In a letter to the director of Housing and Community Services from Gahadzikwa’s lawyers Dondo and Partners, they indicate that they have instructions to apply at the High Court for the property to be returned.
“We are accordingly requesting for your good office to furnish us with all the relevant documents pertaining to the above property which show the history of how (if at all) the property was changed from her name into Kudakwashe Tavirima’s ,” read part of the letter.
Another house that was illegally taken is 34B Jack Bakasa, where the guardian of the house Alice Bhamusi was evicted to make way for Chirwa’s son Andrew who has since occupied the property.
26D 24th Street Mbare was also taken by Sylvester Makaza from its original occupant Vusani Sadomba.
The residents also claim that the illegal possession of homes has made many children take to the streets as they are stranded.
“When Bhamusi was evicted from her home, the children she was staying with ended up on the streets while she is nowhere to be found as she is of no fixed abode,” said one woman.
Another highlighted that they do not know the kind of system that is being used to take the homes as statements from council are conflicting.
Maseko could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.