High Court judge Justice Jacob Manzunzu has ordered Chinhoyi Municipality to stop demolishing vendors’ stalls and repair sheds damaged during a demolition exercise carried out a fortnight ago.
Justice Manzunzu granted the order on Monday after some informal traders, represented by Kudzai Choga and Obey Shava of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, filed an urgent chamber application on May 6 seeking an order to stop the demolitions and confiscation of their wares.
In the application, the vendors argued that the demolitions violated their right to property as enshrined in section 71 of the Constitution.
The Judge also ordered the local authority to repair the structures damaged by municipal police officers.
Some of the vendors affected conducted their business at Gadzema flea market in the small agricultural town located in Mashonaland West Province.