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Prince Sunduzani, Chronicle Reporter
THE Beitbridge Magistrate’s Court has barred Beitbridge Town Council from evicting squatters without first giving them written notice.

The local authority went to court on Tuesday seeking an order to evict illegal settlers in the town saying they were a nuisance and causing a health hazard.
The town council was told by the court that it had to formally notify the squatters before the court could consider their application.

In an interview yesterday, the town secretary, Mr Loud Ramakgapola, said they hope to comply with the court’s directive so that they are granted the go ahead to evict the squatters.

“The court told us that they want proof that we have notified those squatters, so we are going to flight an advert in the paper to that effect. We notified the illegal settlers orally in September, but the court does not recognise that. Hopefully, the matter will be finalised by Friday and evictions will start right away,” said Mr Ramakgapola.

Illegal settlers from all over the country are said to be occupying mainly an area behind Dulivhadzimu Clinic and others within the border town.

“We want to get rid of these squatters from the town. These people are engaging in criminal activities in the town so we want them gone,” he said.

“As a town we are worried, we can’t have a town with illegal settlers. If anyone wishes to put up a structure, they should have authorisation from the authorities.”

Mr Ramakgapola said the squatters should go back to their homes.

“These people do not have proper ablution facilities, and they bath in the open, you can’t even go near the place. They have nothing to do and we understand at night they go into the central business district and steal. If they do not have anywhere proper to stay they should just go back to their places of origin,” he said.

Squatters have posed serious problems for many local authorities in the country, with those in Bulawayo going to the extent of setting up informal schools. — @PrinceNkosy102