Key Issues
•
Freedom from arbitrary eviction – Section 74
•
Right to administrative justice – Section 68
•
Right to dignity – Section 51
•
Right to shelter – Section 28
THE COMPLAINT
1. A complaint of alleged unlawful eviction was lodged by settlers at Yorkshire
Farm in Headlands.
2. The violations were alleged to have been committed in November 2017 by the
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP/Police) Officers, as well as Makoni Rural
District Council.
3. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC/Commission) began its
investigations into the matter in November 2017. The relevant respondents
were afforded the chance to state their side of the story. Witnesses for the
complainants and respondents were also interviewed.
COMPLAINANTS’ ACCOUNT
1. Complainants alleged as follows:
1.1 Sometime in 2003, they settled on Yorkshire Farm, Headlands in
Manicaland Province.
1.2 The complainants were former farm workers who came from neighbouring
farms. This was due to the fact that farms previously owned by former white
farmers were now owned by black farmers who could not accommodate
them on the farms.
1.3 Sometime in 2007, the Respondent directed the complainants to vacate the
farms since they were illegal settlers. However, the complainants did not
heed this call, neither did Respondent follow up on its directive.
1.4 Further, sometime in September 2016, some flyers and posters were
distributed in Headlands by Respondent’s officials, advising complainants
to vacate the farm. Again, the complainants ignored this advice.
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