Domboshava, Karoi residents stop council demolitions

DOMBOSHAVA and Karoi residents got reprieve from the High Court after suing the Local Government ministry over house, church and vending stall demolitions.

The Domboshava residents had cited the Local Government ministry and Goromonzi Rural District Council as the first and second respondents.

“Goromonzi Rural District Council be and is hereby barred and interdicted from demolishing any dwelling houses, hardwares, tuckshops, churches and vending stalls or property of any other description in ward 4, Murape, Goromonzi West, Domboshava pursuant to a verbal communication of May 13, 2020 or without following due process of the law,” thecourt ruled.

The residents said there were no prior consultations with them on the intended action except the verbal communication from councillor Murima which did not constitute due process required in terms of the law.

“The demolitions of citizens’ only source of legitimate livelihood, especially as government is struggling to provide social support to those in need of it due to resource constraints exacerbated by inability of people to work during the lockdown, does not meet the definition of essential service,” they argued.

Ten Karoi residents whose stalls were demolished by Karoi Rural District Council, also got reprieve from the courts

The 10 had submitted that the stalls were their only source of legitimate livelihood, particularly at a time the government was struggling to provide social support to the vulnerable during lockdown.

The vendors said they donated money to Karoi Town Council in 2005 to connect water and electricity and purchase iron bars for Makuva Flea Market construction.

They also submitted that they have been paying monthly rates to the council.