A Mutare resident, Ebson Tembenuka, has regained possession of his home after a judicial officer intervened against the City of Mutare’s (CoM) attempts to evict him.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Tembenuka, a 56-year-old self-employed man from Sakubva, was forcibly evicted by CoM municipal police officers on September 17, 2024, who locked him out of his residence.
Tembenuka has been peacefully residing in his home since June 2012 under a valid lease agreement with CoM.
On August 16, 2024, Tembenuka received a notice from CoM about alleged rental arrears of US$128 and was invited to contest the claim. He submitted his objections to the Finance Department on August 30, 2024. Said ZLHR:
<blockquote>
Despite the engagement, which he had with CoM’s officials, Tembenuka was surprised to be ambushed by the local authority’s municipal police officers, who forcefully removed him from the house and locked the door to his house.
While he had pleaded with CoM’s municipal police officers to allow him access to some of his personal belongings and items, the employees insisted that he should visit the local authority’s offices to explain himself as they were only carrying out instructions.
After failing to obtain relief through engaging CoM officials, Tembenuka then sought the services of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, whose lawyer Tatenda Sigauke, filed an ex-parte application at Mutare Magistrates Court on 18 September 2024 seeking an order to compel CoM to remove its locks and to restore the resident’s occupation and possession of the house.
</blockquote>
During court proceedings, Tembenuka argued that the eviction violated his constitutional rights against arbitrary eviction, as the CoM did not possess a court order to justify their actions.

On October 1, 2024, Magistrate Purity Gumbo ordered CoM to remove the locks from Tembenuka’s property and restore his access, and not to evict him without following due process of the law.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A man in Mutare named Ebson Tembenuka got his house back after the council tried to kick him out illegally. He had a lease agreement with the council but they said he owed money. Even though he tried to explain, they still locked him out. He asked for help from lawyers who went to court. The judge said the council had to give his house back and couldn't do that again without a good reason. In the end, he won and got his home back from the council.

Mutare Resident Regains Home After Court Thwarts Illegal Eviction By Council

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Broadcasting_Corporation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)</a> faces eviction from the offices it is occupying at a <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Masvingo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Masvingo</a> building commonly known as Electricity House after it failed to pay rent, which has now accumulated to over $40 million.
The building is owned by the Zimbabwe Electricity Industry Staff Pension Fund (ZEISPF), which has since approached the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/High_Court_of_Zimbabwe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">High Court</a> seeking to recover the debt from the State broadcaster. Part of ZEISPF’s court application reads:
<blockquote>Plaintiff’s claim against the defendant is for an order confirming the cancellation of the lease between the parties and an order directing the defendant and all those claiming occupation through it to vacate stand No. 382 Masvingo township commonly known as Electricity House failing which the Sheriff is authorised to evict them.</blockquote>
The Pension Fund revealed in the court papers that ZBC was obliged to pay monthly rentals of US$950 or an equivalent of ZWL$5 700.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/zbc-faces-eviction-over-non-payment-rent/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

ZBC Faces Eviction For $40 Million Rental Arrears

An official in the Ministry of Lands said that over 6 000 illegal settlers in Manicaland are refusing to vacate land after the government served them with eviction notices.
Addressing Zanu PF provincial leadership in Mutare at the weekend, Tendai Chimunhu revealed that only 47 people have complied with the government directive. He said:
<blockquote>We have issues of illegal settlers in the province.
Of the 6 451 people who we served with eviction notices, only 47 people have complied, which is quite a small number.
All these people have been given alternative land. Maybe they have challenges and we will be looking into it.</blockquote>
Speaking at the same event, ZANU PF politburo member, Patrick Chinamasa thanked Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba for availing another land to the families who were given eviction notices.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/08/6-000-illegal-settlers-resist-eviction/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewsDay</a></h4>

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