A group of villagers in Zimbabwe’s Chipinge district have successfully challenged the local authority’s attempt to turn their ancestral land into an urban area without their consent. The Chipinge Rural District Council (CRDC) had started excavating, constructing roads, and pegging residential stands in Maunganidze Communal Lands under Chief Mutema since November 2023, affecting more than 645 families.
The villagers, represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), filed an urgent application at the Mutare High Court, arguing that the CRDC’s actions violated their constitutional rights to property, participation, and information. They also feared that the urbanization process would disrupt their livelihoods, which depend on subsistence farming, especially after receiving some agricultural inputs from a government program.
On Monday, Justice Isaac Muzenda ordered the CRDC to stop interfering with the villagers’ land and to engage them in a meaningful consultation before proceeding with any development. He also directed the parties to file a Deed of Settlement within 30 days, outlining the terms and conditions of the agreement.
The ruling was welcomed by the villagers, who said they were relieved that their land was spared from being taken over by the CRDC. They also expressed hope that the local authority would respect their views and interests in the future.
The case is one of several examples of rural communities in Zimbabwe resisting urbanization and defending their land rights against encroachment by state or private actors. According to the UN-Habitat, urbanization in Zimbabwe has resulted in increased pressure on limited resources such as water and housing, leading to the emergence of informal settlements and poor service delivery in urban areas. The UN agency also notes that urban planning in Zimbabwe has not changed much since the colonial era, and continues to perpetuate social and economic segregation.
The ZLHR, a non-profit organization that provides legal assistance to human rights defenders and victims of human rights violations, has been at the forefront of challenging such cases in court. The organization has also advocated for the adoption of a new Human Settlements Policy, which aims to promote inclusive and sustainable urban development in Zimbabwe.
Source: Bulawayo24 News
