ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has ended the agony of more than 40 residents, who had been short-changed and deprived of ownership of their residential stands, after obtaining a court order directing a local authority to allocate them with their pieces of housing land within three months.
The 43 Chiredzi residents resorted to instituting legal action against Chiredzi Town Council, Chiredzi Town Council Housing Director and Local Government and Public Works Minister Hon. Daniel Garwe, after the local authority reneged on allocating them residential stands, which they purchased between 2013 and 2014, when it initiated a high-density residential stand allocation scheme in the Makondo area of Tshovani Township in Chiredzi.
In an application filed at Chiredzi Magistrates Court on 19 May 2025, the residents, who were represented by Ross Chavi of ZLHR, argued that some of them had paid US$2 300 after paying initial deposits amounting to US$420 while others had entered into some agreements to pay monthly instalments of US$123 within 15 months and had even received offer letters.
However, Chiredzi Town Council stopped accepting payments from the 43 residents although some had completed making payments while others were still making payments as per the agreed terms.
The residents charged that repeated demands to be allocated their residential stands were not entertained by the local authority and they continued to be side-lined from being considered as beneficiaries under four other residential stand allocation schemes carried out by Chiredzi Town Council namely the Tshovani Township Makondo infills, the Miye stands, the Melourne park stands and the Tshovani new dumpsite area.
The residents protested that they are living in deplorable conditions and some were staying under dire circumstances while others had passed away with others now old, frail and financially strained and yet they had paid their money in good faith more than 10 years ago intending to be homeowners.
The Chiredzi residents namely Stanley Mabasa, James Pande, Sophie Sithole, Timothy Mugombwi, Gladys Mazhara, Molly Chabata, Admore Muyambo, Ellen Mukora, Khesani Lismati, Collin Dzingai, Anthony Muvhu, Kukumidzai Chisese, Runi Gwehama, Stephen Matinyarare, Silvia Musabaeka, Nhlanhla Mbi, Appla Makovore, Jacob Nesangano, Jenias Rubaya, Spiwe Chabata, Christopher Mbaimbai, Tekla Mudongi, Kwanele Ndhlovu, Chamunorwa Gudo, Moses Gonamombe, Thenjiwe Mutombeni, Estere Ganda, Grace Musvosvi, Dephine Mombe, Senzeni Wakabikwa, Machiweyi Mhambure, Misheck Madira, Tagwirei Gapare, Regies Runesu, Mavis Mambanje, Jonathan Hlungupi, Tichaona Magombedze, Pedzisai Chipatiso, Melania Masiya, Karakadzai Sithole, Dzidzai Machaka and Vimbai Ndhlovu, argued that the conduct of authorities at Chiredzi Town Council, of reneging on allocating them their residential stands, is unreasonable and prejudicial.
The 43 residents’ agony recently came to an end after Chiredzi Magistrate Diana Masiyiwa ordered Chiredzi Town Council to allocate the dwellers their residential stands within 90 days from 23 June 2025, when the court order was handed down.
ENDS
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
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