The High Court has directed the City of Harare (CoH) to renovate and ensure the safety and habitability of hostels and flats in Mbare, according to a statement from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
This decision followed a legal challenge by Israel Mabhoo and the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), who took the CoH, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, and National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda to court.
They accused the authorities of neglecting their responsibilities, which had left residents living in substandard and unsafe conditions.
On December 11, Justice Nyaradzo Munangati-Manongwa ruled that CoH must urgently restore critical services. These include fixing the water and sewer systems, cleaning and sanitizing areas such as Matapi, Matererini, Mbare Flats, Nenyere (also known as Magaba), and Shawasha hostels in Mbare.
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The city council was also ordered to resume waste collection and install fire safety measures like extinguishers, warning systems, and fire escapes.
The court found that CoH had failed in its legal obligations, leaving residents to endure hazardous living conditions. It mandated the immediate provision of essential services, including water, sanitation, waste management, and fire safety measures.
Additionally, CoH and the two ministers were instructed to provide temporary accommodation and essential amenities, such as sanitation facilities, water, electricity, and chemical toilets, during the refurbishment process.
The ruling also required Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora to implement measures under the Public Health Act to prevent disease outbreaks. Meanwhile, Environment, Climate, and Wildlife Minister Nqobizitha Ndlovu was tasked with safeguarding the environment around the hostels.
