The Chiride family's home that was razed down by the Messenger of Court
Brighton Chiseva in Zaka
25 Jan 2017- Zaka – A family of 10 from Siyawareva village under Chief Ndanga was last week left homeless after the messenger of court destroyed their home using picks and hammers after they failed to meet a 48-hour eviction notice.
The eviction order was signed at Zaka Magistrates Court after the village head complained that he could not stay with the Chiride family claiming that Lazarus Chiride was failing to keep his cattle while his wife, Noria Muchenjero, stole vegetables from gardens.
Muchenjero said they were shocked to see the messenger of court arriving at their home to serve the 48-hour eviction order.
“I was once accused of stealing vegetables from the gardens and my husband was accused of leaving cattle unattended but it was resolved at the village head’s court and we were never summoned at any other court until I was given the eviction order,” said Muchenjero.
Before the family could act, she said, the messenger of court returned with Jerera rank touts and two police officers and destroyed four houses.
The family has now camped at Muchenjero’s father’s abandoned home in Rashai village where they made shelter out of iron sheets from their destroyed houses.
Muchenjero also said the family had lost property and food during the eviction and their children were no longer going to school.
“As you can see, it is raining almost every day and we have no proper storage for food and most of the maize got spoilt in water but we have nowhere to dry it,” she added
The houses which were destroyed included a five, four and three-roomed gable house and a kitchen hut as well as foul runs and a granary.news
