The Sunday News
Amanda Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
AN 84-year-old man from Magwegwe West suburb in Bulawayo and his family were left homeless after they were evicted out of their house by the man’s brother-in-law’s son who claims the house belongs to his father and they want to sell it.
Mr Kenneth Mapiye (84) of 5513 Magwegwe West who is ill, cannot walk or talk and his family have been sleeping on the street for two days after they were thrown out of his house by his brother-in-law’s son on Friday.
His wife, Mrs Edina Mapiye (66) told Sunday News that the brother-in-law, Mr Daniel Ncube Bhunu helped them in acquiring the house where they have been staying for the past 20 years. Mr Bhunu is married to Mr Mapiye’s sister.
“My brother-in-law played a very pivotal role in us getting the house, we used his marriage certificate so that we could buy the house since back then only married people were allowed to buy houses and we used his marriage certificate which he offered himself,” said Mrs Mapiye.
She also said that: “We have been staying in that house for more than 20 years and we have been having good relations with my brother-in-law and it is surprising when all of a sudden his son turns up and decides to evict us and sell our house.”
When the couple approached Mr Bhunu to change ownership, he allegedly did not change the names and also did not transfer the house to Mr Mapiye.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Bhunu were fruitless as he was said to living in rural areas. His son Biggie Bhunu said he could not comment as he was only instructed by his father to evict the couple.
Ward 29 Councillor Monica Lubimbi appealed to the public to help the couple and promised to approach the housing office to solve the matter.
Acting Magwegwe Residents’ Association chairperson Mrs Sikhumbuzo Nkala said what Bhunu did was inhuman because the couple has been staying at the house for more than 20 years.
“It’s is not fair especially to the sick old man,” she said.
