Special Focus
In the month of September, special focus was on equality and non-discrimination, political rights, property
rights, personal security, and the right to administrative justice.
RIGHT TO
ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE
In the month of September, ZPP recorded 11 cases of
the right to administrative justice. Manicaland has the
highest number with 4 cases and Mashonaland West
and East had a case each.
A case on the right to administrative justice was
reported in Mutare Central on 23 September 2023. It is
alleged that Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee
(DCC) member Mr Bhinali parcelled out council land to
Zanu PF Chairpersons in the Mutare district as a token
of appreciation for the ruling party’s election victory.
Reports indicate that the Acting Town Clerk of Mutare
tried to halt Mr Bhinali's actions in vain and was insulted
during a council executive meeting. Bhinala allegedly
called the Town Clerk a mere CCC agent who had no
right to stop him from allocating residential stands to
Zanu PF supporters.
Section 68 of the Constitution stipulates that every
Zimbabwean has a right to administrative conduct that
is lawful, prompt, efficient, reasonable, proportionate,
impartial, and both substantively and procedurally fair.
PROPERTY RIGHTS
In the month of September, ZPP recorded a
total of 4 cases of property rights. Harare
recorded 2 cases and Midlands and
Matabeleland South recorded a case each.
On 28 September 5 houses were demolished in
Glenview South in ward 31. It is alleged that
what led to the demotions was a conflict
between the property owners and the Roman
Catholic Church. Reports indicate that
sometime
in
August,
Vice
President
Constantine Chiwenga visited the Roman
Catholic Church in Glenview during a
fundraising church activity and was briefed of
the ongoing dispute between the church and
the property owners.
It is alleged that VP Chiwenga issued an order
without notice to demolish the houses
immediately. Surprisingly a meeting was called for
by the PDC’s office which was attended by an
Officer in Charge Glenview ZRP, a District officer,
Housing and Planning officers from the City of
Harare, ward councillors, the church, and the
property owners to solve the dispute. It is that
although the owners were lawfully allocated stands
through the City of Harare they found themselves
at risk. On September 28, the Council and the PDC
working on command reportedly demolished the
houses without notice. One of the victims was left
traumatized when she returned home from work to
see her house destroyed. Section 71(3) of the
Constitution stipulates that no person may be
compulsorily deprived of their property except
where conditions are satisfied.
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