APOSTLE EVICTED FROM A STAND WHERE HE WAS HOSTING CHURCH SERVICES

AN Eastview church leader, Apostle Paul Chivengwa, was evicted yesterday from a residential stand where he was holding his church services.

He was also staying at the same place.

The Messenger of Court, backed by police, removed his property, including plastic chairs designated for congregants, following a Supreme Court order.

This ordeal began when Apostle Chivengwa lost his case at the High Court in December last year.

His appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed.

This meant he had not only lost the right to host his church services at the stand but a six-roomed house is also going to be demolished.

At the time of the eviction, Apostle Chivengwa’s wife was engaged in a prayer meeting with church members.

“I believed God would deliver us from this harassment,” she said.

“We lost at both courts, but I thought we would be granted more time to vacate.”

She said one of their lawyers told them that an initial eviction letter had expired, because of their appeal, and they were shocked by the sudden enforcement of the order.

“We never received another eviction notice and we feel completely duped,” she added.

Apostle Chivengwa said:

“I have nothing more to say but God will surely fight for me and my family.”

Prisca Bhenyu, who won the case, asserted her rightful claim over the stand, allocated to her in 2011 by the Eastern Heights Housing Cooperative.

“I found this family living here after I had taken time to build and, with all my documents, I sought justice in court,” she said.

She claimed Apostle Chivengwa hired bouncers to try and block his eviction.

This time, however, law enforcement forces, accompanied the Messenger of Court, ensured the removal of property.

Ennwell Mukiwa, the chairperson of the Eastern Heights Housing Cooperative, said:

“Some members delay when it comes to construction while waiting for infrastructure development and land barons capitalise on this, deceiving authorities and selling undeveloped stands.”

Mukiwa reported that around 45 residential stands have fallen victim to such exploitation.