High Court stops Mazowe evictions

Edgar Gweshe

The High Court has granted a provisional order barring the eviction of families from Manzou Farm in Mazowe that was meant to pave way for President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace’s wildlife sanctuary.

The order was issues today by High Court Judge, Justice Erica Ndewere.

At least 200 families were evicted last week in defiance of a High Court order issued last year and they have been living in the open since then.

“The court issued a provisional order stopping the eviction of the families as directed by the High Court order of last year. What this means is that the families that had been affected will be coming back to their land,” said lawyer, Tonderai Bhatasara of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) who appeared on behalf of the applicants.

Home Affairs Minister, Kembo Mohadi, Land and Rural Resettlement Minister, Douglas Mombeshora and Police Commissioner-General, Augustine Chihuri were cited as respondents.

Grace has come under fire from human rights activists following the evictions that analysts say are a violation of the country’s constitution that stipulates that no displacements can take place before alternative accommodation for the affected people is found. The Zimbabwean