Stop demolitions at Mangwaneni – CANGO
Mbabane: The Human Rights and Governance Consortium under CANGO is concerned with demolitions which happened at Mangwaneni community under notice by the Mbabane Municipality Council.
In what CANGO has observed, some of the aggrieved residents have raised concerns about the whole activity spearheaded by the Mbabane Municipal Council invoking provisions of the Building Act of 1968 amounts to forced eviction.
A forced eviction is the removal of people against their will from their homes or land they occupy without legal protections and other safeguards. These have direct barring to basic rights including the right to housing, water, sanitation and food, as well as their access to livelihoods on which they live on daily.
Some of the aggrieved residents stated that the notice letters issued by the municipality and received by them are not a court order and have not been time sufficient for them to remove their properties inside their houses before the demolitions. They also decry the use of armed force.
So serious was the clash in that armed police response in their dispensing of law and order and at least two were wounded in the process.
They also state the fact that they are not sure which of the local authorities between the Mangwaneni royal kraal and the municipality they should listen to, as they are made to run from pillar to post with no solution to their problems.
CANGO is concerned about these demolitions in that they do not comply with the international standards of evictions in the sense that: people’s properties are being flattened with little regard for human rights as there are no alternative dwellings they will be placed under.
These demolitions go far beyond material losses. They perpetuate inequality, marginalization, stifle self-development and wealth acquisition. The situation of the aggrieved residents is made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic as they are now exposed to infections. The covid-19 restrictions make it difficult for them to find alternative accommodation.
The government must deal with the land issue in terms of the Constitution. We call for:
The government of Eswatini is also required to ensure that no one is rendered homeless as a result of an eviction.
We plead for cooperation between local government authorities, Mbabane Municipal Authority and the Mangwaneni Royal Kraal.
There is no need to render people homelessness as a result of forced evictions especially when states could be assisted to develop policies and legislations to prevent these acts from happening. We therefore call for immediate land reforms.
By Chairperson of the Human Rights and Governance Consortium
Rev Zwanini Shabalala
#### END ####
Contact
CANGO Communications
2404 4721/7817 9868
communications@cango.org.sz
In what CANGO has observed, some of the aggrieved residents have raised concerns about the whole activity spearheaded by the Mbabane Municipal Council invoking provisions of the Building Act of 1968 amounts to forced eviction.
A forced eviction is the removal of people against their will from their homes or land they occupy without legal protections and other safeguards. These have direct barring to basic rights including the right to housing, water, sanitation and food, as well as their access to livelihoods on which they live on daily.
Some of the aggrieved residents stated that the notice letters issued by the municipality and received by them are not a court order and have not been time sufficient for them to remove their properties inside their houses before the demolitions. They also decry the use of armed force.
So serious was the clash in that armed police response in their dispensing of law and order and at least two were wounded in the process.
They also state the fact that they are not sure which of the local authorities between the Mangwaneni royal kraal and the municipality they should listen to, as they are made to run from pillar to post with no solution to their problems.
CANGO is concerned about these demolitions in that they do not comply with the international standards of evictions in the sense that: people’s properties are being flattened with little regard for human rights as there are no alternative dwellings they will be placed under.
These demolitions go far beyond material losses. They perpetuate inequality, marginalization, stifle self-development and wealth acquisition. The situation of the aggrieved residents is made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic as they are now exposed to infections. The covid-19 restrictions make it difficult for them to find alternative accommodation.
The government must deal with the land issue in terms of the Constitution. We call for:
- Amendment of the laws governing the land tenure system to confer security of land ownership and protect communities from unlawful evictions;
- Affording residents access to justice so that there are no demolitions without court orders and people are aware they have their day in court;
- Considering the wide range of impacts, and argue in favour of less harmful solutions and alternatives to the foreseen project;
- Estimating the real costs related to eviction and displacement of individuals and community that goes far beyond the mere market price of physical structures; and
- Allowing for a better quantification of claims, including in regard to compensation.
The government of Eswatini is also required to ensure that no one is rendered homeless as a result of an eviction.
We plead for cooperation between local government authorities, Mbabane Municipal Authority and the Mangwaneni Royal Kraal.
There is no need to render people homelessness as a result of forced evictions especially when states could be assisted to develop policies and legislations to prevent these acts from happening. We therefore call for immediate land reforms.
By Chairperson of the Human Rights and Governance Consortium
Rev Zwanini Shabalala
#### END ####
Contact
CANGO Communications
2404 4721/7817 9868
communications@cango.org.sz
