The Jesuits Gave Us The Go Ahead

Over 341 families evicted

Herald Reporter

MORE than 341 families living at a farm belonging to the Roman Catholic Church near Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison were yesterday evicted by the Messenger of Court to pave way for the building of houses.

An eviction notice dated November 10, 2008 stated that the families vacate Manresa Farm by yesterday. Mr Luke Masumba — a member of the Manresa Residents Association — said they had filed an appeal against the eviction. "We have appealed against the eviction and call upon responsible authorities to come to our rescue as we have nowhere to go," Mr Masumba said.
When The Herald visited the farm yesterday afternoon, workers from the Sheriff’s Department were being assisted by police to evict the families. Some of the brick houses had already been brought down while others had been burnt as the owners watched helplessly. Among those evicted were the elderly who claimed to have occupied land at the farm since 1902.

The Roman Catholic Church authorized some of the families to stay at the farm when it acquired the property in 1902."My grandson, this is our home. We don’t know any other home other than this. So where do they want us to go? They will have to kill us," Gogo Creddy Munhuwa said. The 90-year-old woman had already removed her property with the help of her children and grandchildren. Gogo Maud Zebron, also aged 90, said they had been authorised by the Jesuits to stay at the farm long back. "I built my home in 1930 after the Jesuits gave us the go ahead to build our homes. So we don’t know why the police are evicting us," she said.

Mr Edison Umali (21) also said he grew up at the farm and knows no other home. Others who were evicted claimed that some influential people were behind their eviction. "We believe that some of the stands were sold to some high ranking officials from Government and this is why we are being evicted," said another occupant said.
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