Eighteen people with disabilities and other vulnerable people were stranded after they were evicted from a plot of agricultural land that had been allocated to them and where they had remained for 16 years.
The 18 members of the Nhakayavatima Cooperative Society were evicted by a ruling issued by Judge Vimbai Mutukwa on 25 January 2024. The ruling came after an eviction application filed by a lawyer named Dyson Chirema who claims to be the legal owner of the plot of land.
The evacuation itself took place on January 25, 2024. Some of the evacuated members are now staying at the bus shelter and on street sidewalks.
Types of disabilities among the 18 people include those who walk on crutches, amputees, and those who use wheelchairs.
The head of the cooperative, Chimbedzikaye Dzinavatunga, uses crutches because one of his legs was amputated. He told The Mirror that the cooperative acquired the land from Zanu PF in 2008. He said they had legal papers for the ownership of the 2,385 hectare plot of land located at SD33 Hippo Valley North and signed by the former Chiredzi City Council environmental officer. , Edson Nyadenga, have been farming the land for 16 years and this has been their only source of livelihood.
The documents giving the cooperative ownership of the land state in part: “This letter confirms that Nhakayavatima can go ahead and grow crops. This matter has been discussed and accommodated by our management, so we recommend that the agricultural project be initiated.” Masvingo Mirror
