ZELA Challenges Chilonga Community Evictions At Masvingo High Court

Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) has filed 2 applications at the Masvingo High Court challenging the government’s decision to move Chilonga Villagers from their ancestral land to pave way for the Dendairy grass project.

This was revealed by ZELA which shared a photo of the papers submitted to the court for their application; ZELA in a social media post said:

Breaking News! Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association(ZELA)  has just filed two court applications simultaneously at Masvingo High Court on behalf of Chilonga  Community. #SaveChilonga

The court papers show that the applicants are:

1. Masvingo Center For Research Advocacy and Community Development Trust (MACRAD Trust)
2. Livson Chikutu

The respondents are:

1. Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development
2. Chiredzi Rural District Council
3. Minister  of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement.
4. Minister For Provincial Affairs Masvingo

Meanwhile ever since the issue of purported evictions came to light the following speculations have been circulating on social media though they are not yet verified:

1. President Mnangagwa owns part of Dendairy
2. There could be diamond deposits in the area

Source: ZELA