Mazowe South legislator Fortune Chasi has demonstrated he dreads helping members of his constituency who have been illegally displaced by President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace.
Speaking to ZimEye.com, Chasi said ‘I feel’ for the over 150 families who were displaced by the police from Arnold Farm which falls under his constituency to accommodate wild animals but said he could not help the situation because ‘it is before the courts’.
This came as Mrs Mugabe defying two High Court orders offloaded 100 zebras onto the agricultural farmland.
The former Justice Deputy Minister was fired by President Robert Mugabe after he clashed with his Grace over land in the constituency.
“I have never been there since they were displaced, but I can feel pity for them .I can imagine how they are coping especially in this chilly weather,” Chasi told ZimEye.com
He continued,
“Even if I go there I will find no one to address and also because the case is before the court. I think you appreciate that there were court orders and it is my feeling that the courts deal with the case, and if I get involved I will be interfering with the courts, ” he timidly replied.
 
The villagers who are being represented by Tonderai Bharasara of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights are now living in makeshift houses constructed using plastics after their 14 year old houses were demolished with neither notice nor protocol.
 
Government last week claimed it was going to find some alternative land for the villagers, but Chasi said he was not aware of such developments.
 
“I do not know what the plans are at the moment and I am not even aware of what is going to happen to them”, he said.
 
The villagers last week said officials from the National Parks and Wild Life management authority visited the farm and advised them that they were going to drive in some wild animals. This is despite the existence of two court orders interdicting government from evicting the villagers.
 
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has vowed to continue defending the villagers.