HARARE - Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has won a High Court order against a co-operative that had illegally evicted them from a building in Harare.

ZCTU made an urgent chamber application after they were forcefully evicted from Gorlon House, Harare by Magamba eChimurenga Housing co-Operative and Cliford Hokonya.

In the application, the Deputy Sheriff was also cited as a respondent.

The country’s largest labour body told the court that the co-operative and Hokonya were taking “the law into their own hands” after they defied court order permitting ZCTU to stay at the building.

The co-operative was found to be in contempt of court.

It invaded the building, despite a court order in favour of ZCTU. The labour body told the court that the co-operative’s actions were “contemptuous”.

“The continued occupation of the premises by the first respondent (Magamba eChimurenga Co-operative) is prejudicial to the applicant,” read ZCTU’s submissions.

High court judge Felistas Chatukuta gave the order by consensus.

“It is ordered by consent that the first and second respondent be and are hereby found to be in contempt of court.

“That the first and second respondent be and are hereby ordered to purge their contempt by vacating Gorlon House 7 Jason Moyo Avenue immediately. First and second respondent pay cost of this application on, jointly and severally one paying the other to be absolved,” reads the order. - Tendai Kamhungira