departments, of their duty to uphold the Constitution, by ensuring that their conduct
is not only lawful, it must be procedurally fair. Under no circumstances are
government departments at liberty to unilaterally and arbitrarily demolish any
structures in the absence of a court order authorizing them to do so, whether the
structures were built without approval of building plans, or layout plans or without
complying with any other legal requirement. Even if the structures are an eyesore,
they cannot just be razed to the ground at the drop of a hat, or on a whim.”
6.3 Right to Freedom of Movement
6.3.1 The investigation also revealed that the right to freedom of movement and
residence of the complainants has been heavily curtailed. Section 66 (2) (a) of the
Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the right of every citizen of Zimbabwe to
move freely within Zimbabwe. It was noted that the boom gates which have been
erected at entry points into Arnold Farm hinder the free movement of people from
and into the farm as they are manned by purported ZRP officers day and night.
Such measures which impact negatively on a right given by the Constitution are
unconstitutional.
6.3.2 Resolution 231 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights3 states
that State Parties must, before resorting to eviction ensure availability of
alternatives, ensure that legal procedures are complied with, take concrete
measures to ensure security of tenure, and that alternative housing complies with
international and regional standards on the right to adequate housing.
Notwithstanding the type of tenure, all persons should possess a degree of security
of tenure which guarantees legal protection against forced eviction, harassment
and other threats. This is absent in the context of the residents of Arnold Farm who
for almost 17 years since their settlement in 2000 have been subjected to a series
of evictions and live in uncertainty.
3
Resolution 231 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ rights on the right to adequate housing and
protection from forced evictions www. http://www.achpr.org/sessions/52nd/resolutions/231/
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