The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
A local church has come to the rescue of the homeless Chikanga siblings who were kicked out of their father’s house four months ago and were braving the bad and stormy weather after their late father’s property was sold by their brother.
It is alleged that Artwell and Sandra Muchafuruka forged their siblings’ signatures and sold the house behind their backs.
In an interview on Monday, Emmanuel Muchafuruka (24) said his wife, their three-year-old child and four-months-old baby have since moved into a one roomed apartment, thereby leaving him to look after their property which still lies outside their late parents’ house.
The United Kingdom Forward in Faith Church is taking care of the rentals for the apartment as well as supplying food for the family.
Muchafuruka thanked the church for helping his family.
“I am very grateful to the United Kingdom Forward Church for coming to our rescue as we had been sleeping in the open for months with small children, thereby exposing them to various dangers.
“The church is renting a room for my wife and two children. I, however, am still sleeping outside with our former tenant whose property is also outside with ours,” said Muchafuruka.
In an interview, United Kingdom Forward Church leader, Prophet Clemence Mtetwa said the Muchafuruka siblings are members of his church.
“The room that I am renting for them is very small and will not accommodate all the family members. I did that so that at least the woman and children can have a roof above their heads.
“I am struggling to pay the rentals as I am using resources from my own coffers. I appeal to well-wishers who can offer decent accommodation to the family to come on board,” said Prophet Mtetwa.
Muchafuruka said he is staying in the open with some of the family’s former tenants, adding that when The Messenger of Court evicted them from the house, some of the tenants’ furniture was destroyed.
He said the tenants refused to move it elsewhere.
“They are waiting for us to finalise the matter with the courts so that we can make a counter claim for the damaged property against those who initiated this unlawful process,” he said.
When The Manica Post recently visited the house, the plastic covering the furniture was in tatters.
From pots to television sets, everything lay haphazardly outside the house.
Muchafuruka said he also sleeps in a plastic next to the furniture.
He said his 18-year-old sister, Shyline, secured employment as a domestic worker in Chikanga as a last resort.
When they were evicted from their house, Shyline was due to start at the Culinary School at Mutare Polytechnic.
However, all her plans went down the drain.
“She was about to enrol at Mutare Polytechnic and we were planning to use rentals from our tenants to fund her education, but fate ruled otherwise and we were evicted from our house.
“We were left with no other source of income and a roof above our heads. She is now employed as a domestic worker and it is really painful as Shyline’s dream is to become a chef,” said Muchafuruka.
He, however, said he is glad that his sister is safe and has a roof over her head.
His other sister, Patricia (31), is in South Africa and her signature was also forged on the court waiver forms that facilitated the selling of the house.
The siblings’ brother who sold the property, Artwell, is still on the run.
“We suspect that he is in Mozambique, but he should come back and have this issue solved. He should spare a thought for us, we are suffering because of his selfishness,” he said.
The family was evicted by the Messenger of Court in November last year and their property is now in a sorry state.
The siblings are still contesting the selling of their late father, Mr Phineas Muchafuruka’s house in Chikanga Phase Three, Mutare, before the Mutare High Court.
