Authorities are currently looking into a reported forced eviction that took place in Lovu Seaside, Lautoka. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Iakobo Vaisewa has acknowledged that the police received a complaint from a tenant named Sofia Farzana, who alleges that her landlord pressured her to leave her home.
Ms. Farzana, a mother of two, shared a video on social media that depicts individuals, believed to be the landowners, dismantling the fencing and uprooting plants on her property while insisting on her eviction. In the video, a man accuses Ms. Farzana and her family of selling the land without the landowner’s consent and demands proof of a lease title in her name. Ms. Farzana asserts that her late grandmother purchased the land in 1998 and transferred the title to her before passing away recently.
“I was born here. I was raised by my grandmother. She bought this land and built this house. The property is under my name,” Ms. Farzana stated. Furthermore, she claims the landowners are asking for $15,000 to allow them to repurchase the land, stating, “They said if we want to stay here, we must buy the land again with a new title. Where do we get the money? My husband is a struggling chef. This is a degrading and humiliating experience for me and my two little children.”
SSP Vaisewa confirmed that the investigation into the matter is ongoing.
This situation highlights the complex nature of land ownership and tenant rights, and it calls attention to the challenges many families face in securing their homes. While the ongoing investigation is a step toward finding justice for Ms. Farzana and her family, it’s essential to continue promoting awareness about housing rights to prevent such distressing situations in the future. It is hoped that the outcome of the investigation will lead to a resolution that protects vulnerable tenants while upholding property rights.
Leave a comment