Police officers under First Lady Grace Mugabe’s command have once again openly defied the courts after being ordered for the second time to stop evictions at Manzou Farm where Grace is preparing to offload animals and start operating an animal farm.
Four villages who filed an urgent chamber application yesterday suing police commissioner Augustine Chihuri and the minister in charge, Sydney Mombeshora after they revealed that numerous police officers came in lorries armed with rifles, batons and also with dogs threatening to beat up anyone who resists the evictions, had pain added to their misery yesterday when they were told they will have to wait for two weeks despite their petition being an urgent chamber application.
Aspinas Makufa, George Musa, Gift Chikowore and Dhaisi Musekiwa, said the police are continuing with evictions ignoring the twofold court order despite also the new court challenge which however they will have to wait until January 30 when it is finally heard.
The move comes shortly after a second ruling was made by the high court Monday declaring that the evictions violate several of the key protective provisions such as the right to shelter and freedom from arbitrary eviction as enshrined in Section 28 and Section 74 of the Constitution among other rights.
 
One of the villagers, Makufa, who is a ZANU PF member, said police must be held accountable for defying all the court orders by demolishing their houses.
He wrote in his affidavit, “since we had an order of the court and as law abiding citizens, we proceeded to rebuild our homes and prepared fields and planted various crops ranging from maize, beans, groundnuts, tobacco,” submitted Makufa.
“On Wednesday Wednesday the 7th of January (2015) the morning five UD trucks came full of police officers in uniform, some in riot gear, armed with guns, logs, iron bars, dogs and baton sticks. They started demolishing and destroying the homes and property.
“It is clear that by having officers under their command and control, demolish and destroy our homes and property, respondents willingly or intentionally failed to comply with the court order.
“I aver that the disobedience of the court order by the respondent is wilful or reckless and also mala fide.”
Makufa said Mohadi and Chihuri must be punished as they have disrespected the country’s constitution and the courts.
“Their conduct is contemptuous as it is intentional. Their conduct is reprehensible and punishable,” he said.
The villagers however will have to wait until January 30 when their urgent chamber application will be heard by Justice Bhunu. They are being represented by Tonderai Bhatasara and George Mtisi, of the ZLHR(Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights).