Unlawful eviction by our Council

I've spent New Year's eve in the worst manner one can possibly imagine. Thanks to various senior officers of the Council.

I was about to have lunch with my elder sister on that day, when I got a phone call from a close friend informing me that some people had broken into my Council flat in Nyerere Estate (C5), and my things being taken out, etc., by the 'new' occupant with the help of these senior officers of the Council.

Since I've paid my rent in advance till March 2010, this was gross impunity on their part. Also, I've had nothing from the Council to give me notice of this action of theirs or why they would do such a thing. After all I've been living in that place for over 30 years! I've never defaulted on rent paying, either. Therefore, one wonders what and WHY this was done.

And why choose New Year's eve to do this? When none in officialdom would be available for questioning....? With a long weekend for the new occupants to nicely settle themselves in with no interference from any law enforcer/s.

I've spent most of last week trying to get some answers to this gross violation my rights and abuse by the Council to no avail.

I first went, on Monday, in the company of Munir Mazrui from MUHURI, to the Council's housing manageress, Ms. Miriam Moka(?), at her Buxton offices, but, she told us to go and see the Director of Housing and Social Services. This person, unfortunately, had not reported for work that day, and he told us (via phone with the housing manageress), to go and see the Town Clerk.

This, we did, that same afternoon. After sitting in his outer office for nearly an hour, we were told to wait further in his 'inner' outer office! This too, we did and after making us wait further, he deemed it fit to see us, at long last.

Mr. Mazrui showed him my receipts that the Council had issued me with when making my latest payment for February and March 2010 on December 24th 2009, and asked him why I had been evicted. We were told that he (town clerk), did not know anything about this issue and that he would have to investigate. So, could we please, come back on Wednesday, 6th January 2010 at 10.00 am to his offices?

We did exactly that, but, when we got there on the hour, we were told that he was out and could we wait as he was going to come back shortly? Therefore we waited some more... The Town Clerk at long last made his appearance after nearly an hour of us waiting, but, did not even acknowledge our presence or give an apology for not being there for his 10.00 am appointment with us. Instead, he made us wait some more.

After about twenty to thirty minutes further of waiting after his arrival, we were told to go into his 'inner' outer office to wait some more and which we did. When it started getting to nearly 12.00 noon (we'd been waiting for nearly 2 hours!), and with no sign of him calling us in to discuss this issue, Mr. Mazrui and I decided that enough was enough and we left.

This Town Clerk, despite seeing us seated there in his 'inner' outer office when he came out a number of times, did not even acknowledge our presence leave alone apologize for his being late for his appointment with us that he himself had made with us two days before. What impunity is this?

Also, our next stop was to a lawyer's office right across from the Council who has since delivered a notice letter to the Town Clerk to explain the Council's actions regarding my eviction and the fate of all my stuff that was in the flat. Despite, there being no 7 day notice, but, instead it says with immediate effect, there's been no word forthcoming from that direction. Why?

This action by the Council is gross impunity by our Public Officer/s and highly irresponsible, too. But, in this country, the high and mighty ALWAYS get away with every kind of violation, unfortunately. There is no justice and there is no law here, anymore....., is there?

And what happens to all the damage to my reputation, flat, it's contents (my possessions), and the 3 months of this year that I've paid in advance in rent? Have the present occupants also stolen that with my name, etc? We have 'official' thieves, also, it seems who can break and enter any premises they feel like and take over throwing the rightful tenants out in the cold. What kind of precedent is this Council and it's 'officers' setting? The law of the Jungle seems to be prevailing in that direction.

Will I ever see justice done and compensation paid for this gross impunity by the Council?