AT least 30 families staying in rented quarters at the Masvingo Showgrounds have reportedly been ordered to vacate the premises to pave way for the forthcoming Zanu PF national annual conference.
Source: 30 families ordered out to pave way for Zanu PF conference – NewsDay Zimbabwe October 12, 2016
By Tatenda Chitagu
Sources said the families were recently addressed by State security agents, who labelled them a security risk and ordered them to vacate the premises for the duration of the conference, whose dates are yet to be disclosed, but scheduled for December this year.
The families lease properties at the showgrounds, where rentals are generally cheaper compared to other residential areas. Rentals cost $20 per room per month compared to $50 in other residential areas.
“They are set to be evicted for a week and they have nowhere else to go, except to look for accommodation from their relatives. These are people, who are renting here, where rentals are cheap and to imagine them getting alternative accommodation is something else. It is out of their reach,” a source in the know said.
The affected families confirmed the development in separate interviews yesterday.
“It is true, we have been told to prepare to vacate our premises for a week in December, but we have not been told the dates yet. They just told us to be prepared to be away from our rented houses for a week,” one of the affected family members said.
Masvingo show society administrator, Jane Marevesa, declined to comment on the matter and referred all questions to Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairperson, Amasa Nhenjana.
Nhenjana, however, said the evictions would not affect all the families living within the premises.
“Not all of the families will be affected. In fact, they will just be moved from their houses near where the tents will be pitched, but still remain in other houses in the showgrounds,” he said.
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