adequate notice before demolitions. From the investigations conducted, the
ZHRC established that the complainants were given seven days verbal
notices to vacate the Estate yet there was no court order to that effect as
specified by Section 74 of the Constitution. The right to administrative
justice was therefore violated.
6. CONCLUSION
Evictions of illegal settlers continue unabated in Zimbabwe. This is largely due to the
fact that Zimbabwe does not have rules and regulations on the eviction procedure of
both former farm workers and illegal settlers on agricultural land (former white
commercial farms). Therefore, in the present case, although the complainants were
illegal settlers and could not hold or have right of title to the farms (through possession
of Offer Letters), their eviction from farms without any alternative land being offered is
a violation of their right to adequate shelter and their freedom from arbitrary eviction
without considering all the relevant circumstances.
7. RECOMMENDATIONS
In light of the above findings and conclusion, the ZHRC makes the following
recommendations:
TO and PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
11.1. To ensure a law is enacted that curb illegal grabbing and invasion of
farms;
11.2. To enact laws that specifically deal with the eviction of illegal settlers
from farms;
11.3. To enact laws that protect the rights of former farm workers.
MINISTRY OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT
11.4. To find a way of finalising and ensuring that the Land Reform does come
to an end; and
11.5. To provide shelter for evicted illegal settlers.
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