Evictee collapses, dies while moving furniture

THE 84-year-old man from Magwegwe West in Bulawayo who was evicted from his house by a relative in October this year collapsed and died last week while moving furniture from a neighbour’s house where he had been staying.

The man was evicted from his house by his brother-in-law’s son who wanted to sell the property claiming it belonged to his father.

Mr Kenneth Mapiye of House Number 5513 Magwegwe West was evicted by Mr Biggie Bhunu and he died on Tuesday at around 12pm while he was moving his furniture out of the house after the Good Samaritan neighbour could no longer accommodate his family as she was also moving out of the house to make way for her landlord.

Mr Mapiye’s wife, Mrs Edina Mapiye (66) told Sunday News that it was sad to lose her husband in such a manner.

However, it was not clear yesterday whether Mr Mapiye had been buried.

Mrs Mapiye said, “We were helped by our neighbour who took us in since the day we were evicted until she asked us to move out as she was also moving out.”

She blamed her husband’s death on stress caused by being evicted from their house.

Mrs Mapiye said her husband was seriously ill when they were evicted from the house and had to sleep on the streets for two days.

She said the house belonged to her and her husband but was registered in her brother-in-law, Mr Daniel Ncube Bhunu’s name whose marriage certificate they used to buy the house 20 years ago.

Mr Bhunu is married to Mr Mapiye’s sister.

Mrs Mapiye said Mr Bhunu did not transfer ownership of the house to Mr Mapiye despite several requests.

“My brother-in-law played a very pivotal role in us getting the house.

“We used his marriage certificate to buy the house since back then only married people could buy council houses.

“We had been staying in that house for more than 20 years and we have been having good relations with Mr Bhunu and we were surprised when his son turned up and evicted us,” she said.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Bhunu were fruitless as he was said to be at his rural home. His son Biggie declined to comment.

Ward 29 Councillor Monica Lubimbi appealed to members of the public to help the family in any possible manner.

Acting Magwegwe Residents’ Association chairperson Mrs Sikhumbuzo Nkala described Mr Bhunu’s actions as inhuman.