Yesterday MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti scored a major victory for the homeless people of Zimbabwe after arguing on behalf of the Homeless People Confederation against the Minister of Local Government in the Supreme Court resulting in the court ruling that the right to shelter is a justiciable right based on the provisions of the Constitution of the country .
Confirming the landmark ruling on Twitter, Tendai Biti law chambers said they are humbled by the ruling after the complainants were forcibly evicted from their farm.
“We are humbled to have chartered another landmark judgment in our constitutional jurisprudence. Courts have been slow to enforce socio-economic rights so this judgment is the first definitive pronouncement on second-generation rights. We will keep pushing the law to its limits.
“This comes after the appellants challenged the forced evictions perpetrated by the Respondents on State acquired land known as Haydon Farm which hosts the New Park informal settlement which was home to almost a thousand informal settlers.
“This is a welcome judgment, that advances the status of socio-economic rights in Zimbabwe. Falling in line with other growing jurisprudence in African Law.” said the law firm
MDC Alliance Secretary for Local government, Sesel Zvidzai hailed the ruling saying it conforms to one of their key fights as enunciated by Nelson Chamisa early this year.
“This victory pleases us as it is a victory in one of our key fights for 2020 as pronounced by President Nelson Chamisa in January this year: The fight for better livelihoods.”
Zvidzai added that government , through the Ministry of local Government has a key responsibility to enable availability of quality shelter for the people , and not destroy people’s shelter and homes, and should henceforth be compelled to gather resources , from prescribed assets and other sources for massive housing development in unplanned settlements and in rural areas of Zimbabwe.
“This includes setting aside money for research in universities and colleges so that cheaper construction materials can be developed thus making housing more affordable. We have to see concrete steps to reduce the more than 2 million urban Housing waiting list and improvement of the quality of shelter in the rural areas,” he added.