Government has started relocating residents who had built illegal structures near the Harare International Airport to Stoneridge Park in Harare South. This followed concerns by President Mugabe during the official opening of the first phase of Harare International Airport Road last month that the illegal residential settlement tarnished the image of the country as many visitors passed through the place.
The squatters are staying at an open space reserved for the airport’s expansion at corner Harare Drive and Joshua Nkomo Express Way formerly Airport Road.
In an interview with The Herald, Harare South legislator, Shadreck Mashayamombe said the relocation of illegal residents started last week and the last batch would receive their stands today.
“We have not yet started demolishing the illegal structures. We are relocating the illegal residents and we started last week,” Mashayamombe said.
“Local Government is providing the stands and the last batch is expected to be given land tomorrow (today).”
He also said that they had agreed with the residents and all stakeholders on the period the residents had to relocate before Harare City Council demolishes their houses.
“We have held three meetings with the residents on the reason why they should move and many have already started relocating.
“We also talked to the mayor and the council will remove residents who fail to meet the date we agreed on,” said Mashayamombe.
Mashayamombe said Government issued out 2 000 stands at Retreat Farm in Harare South in 2013 for these illegal residents but they failed to vacate the place leaving them with no option but to forcefully move them.
The settlement is administered by a housing cooperative called Nyikavanhu and is largely composed of makeshift house