Zanu PF Youths Continue To Seize Buildings

The Zanu (PF) youths invaded Victoria House block of flats along Hebert Chitepo Street owned by Essats family of Indian origin. On Tuesday police brought a messenger of court who was armed with a High Court order to  evict them,  but the more than 70 Zanu (PF) youths at this  building refused to vacate claiming the building was now theirs, resulting in clashes with police.

“We are not going anywhere Victoria House is now ours.  Yourself you can’t go to India today and own buildings. There should go away we are not going to listen to that, Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans,” said Andrew Manjoro the Zanu (PF) secretary for economic affairs in youth league in Bulawayo district. Manjoro added that the Essats family was wasting time and money by trying to evict them.

When Radio VOP visited Victoria House on Tuesday night the Zanu (PF) youths were back in the building claiming that they had engaged senior police officers in the province and they won’t be evicted from the building.

In June last year Zanu (PF) youths in Bulawayo seized three buildings located in the central business district owned by Indian and Italian families.

The buildings that have been invaded so far include Zambesia and Canberra Flats located between Leopold Takawira and Sixth Avenue and owned by Laloo family, also of Indian origin. The militant youths have also grabbed the Capri which houses the Pizzaghetti owned by Di Palma family who are of Italian origin.

The youths last month blocked businessman Khalil Gaibie from evicting tenants from his Elons Court between 3rd Avenue and Main Street over late payment of rentals, adding that they had taken over the building

The takeover of the buildings in Bulawayo has caused divisions between the party’s provincial executive and the youths. Isaac Dakamela, the Zanu (PF) chairman for Bulawayo Province, had on numerous occasions voiced his concern at the takeover of city buildings by the party youths who have also hit back and threatened to topple him on charges of being a stumbling block to the black empowerment programme.