Zimbabwe: Cloverdale Farm Evictees Living On Roadside After Demolitions, Blame Zanu-PF-Linked Land Barons for Illegally Allocating Them Stands

Until last Friday, Ashel Chibutse, 43, lived with his family in a four-room house at Cloverdale farm. This farm is located 25 kilometers outside Harare. Chibutse and many others faced a heartbreaking ordeal when their homes were demolished.

Several families had occupied Cloverdale after settling on land owned by former Cabinet minister Petronella Kagonye. Now, these families are homeless and exposed to the cold. The Harare-Mutare highway has become their temporary shelter.

Chibutse learned about the demolitions while he was at work. He received alarming news that police officers were beating people near Ruwa. The invasions at Cloverdale began years ago when land barons sold stands for as little as US$200. These sales were linked to the ruling party, Zanu PF, with a member known as Chairman SaMutoko leading the effort.

"I got my stand in February and built my house in six months," said Chibutse. They moved to Cloverdale in August and were told that Zanu PF youths would receive the stands.

"We didn’t get any papers," he explained. "We just went to see Chairman SaMutoko for land." Many families woke up to find their homes being destroyed by authorities. When some tried to stop the demolition, violence broke out between residents and police officers.

"Police beat anyone they encountered," Chibutse reported. "The violence escalated after rumors of police deaths spread." Officers seemed intent on punishing all men present.

When NewZimbabwe.com visited Cloverdale, tensions ran high with police swarming the area. Evicted residents felt there was injustice in how the demolitions occurred without warning.

"We were chased by police dogs," one resident named Ndlovu said. "Now we have nowhere to go." Children who should be going to school are now facing difficulties.

The families are now living along the crowded Harare-Mutare highway. The constant noise from passing cars makes life challenging for them, especially for children trying to cope with their new reality.