THE High Court has ordered Government to stop all demolitions taking place in Chitungwiza and Epworth as they are unlawful and unprocedural.
The details were confirmed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) who were providing legal assistance to residents’ groupings.
“The High Court ordered demolitions to be stopped in Chitungwiza and Epworth as they are unlawful and unprocedural after considering that this ban should serve as a warning to the rest of all councils that demolitions will have repercussions on them,” ZLHR said.
The ruling comes after Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST) dragged Government to court after filing an urgent High Court application against the ongoing wave of demolitions which have razed down most trading sites used by the town’s informal traders.
Early this week the residents’ group confirmed that Government’s conduct had left them with fewer options but to approach the courts.
“Chitungwiza Residents Trust as represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking an order to stop the forced demolition of informal traders market stalls by the government,” said CHITREST.
The residents’ group said it was convinced that this nicodemus demolition of market stalls by Government during the lockdown period is a sad replication of Operation Murambatsvina of 2005 which was rightly condemned by the United Nations
