Hwange to demolish 50 houses

HWANGE Colliery Company Limited is set to demolish a section of its condemned houses in a bid to force out illegal occupants, a development that will leave 50 families homeless.

The area facing demolishing is located in Madumabisa Village and was decommissioned several years ago with previous occupants having been relocated.

However, the area popularly known as G West was quickly invaded by people, turning it into a criminal haven with most illicit activities such as selling of black-market fuel and prostitution now rampant.

The area which is close to the company’s coke works is often affected by air pollution as coal dust particles are blown into the area.

In a notice, the company’s acting managing director, Dr Charles Zinyemba, said the move to demolish the decommissioned houses was necessitated by health and security reasons.

“Please take note that Hwange Colliery Company Limited intends to demolish its decommissioned houses in No.2/ Madumabisa Village, a section also known as G West or Magalapye for health, sanitation and security reasons.

“Members of the community who have illegally occupied these houses are advised to vacate houses by 30 April 2020, the date after which the demolition of these structures will commence,” said Dr Zinyemba.

Greater Whange Residents Trust (GWRT) co-ordinator Mr Fidelis Chima welcomed the development arguing that the company had followed due process in getting rid of what had become an eyesore and health hazard.

“As GWRT we are happy that the Colliery followed due process of evicting them. More than 50 families are going to be affected by this development.

“However, the houses indeed need to be demolished, the families are being exposed to toxic coal pollution.

“The major problem is that different families come and go while criminals also seek refuge in those houses.

“We understand that the whole A section was decommissioned and it is common cause that the Colliery has not been evicting them because of accommodation shortages,” he said.

When a Sunday News crew visited the area, most of the affected residents seemed unperturbed by the notice as they went about their normal lives.

“This is not the first time the company has issued such threats, one wonders where they want us to go.

“We are poor people trying to eke out a living, we can’t even afford food at times, let alone rent.

“Yes, we do understand that the houses we are occupying were condemned but we have nowhere to go.

“This place has no power, we use other means to cook while there are no windows or doors and we have learnt to improvise,” said a man in the area who declined to be named.

Ms Bridget Ndlovu, a single mother said she was forced to seek refuge at the place after she fell on hard times and could not afford to pay rent where she was previously staying.

“I came here in 2018 through a friend who told me there was a place I could temporarily find accommodation while I look for a job.

“This was meant to be a short-term solution but eventually this became my home as I struggled with my two children.

“It’s not all of us who are into crime and the eviction notice without alternative accommodation is something that is disturbing.”