Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has pointed out that Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is wholly responsible for the demolition of houses in Budiriro, Harare.
In a statement, MDC Alliance described the Harare demolitions as a heartless act.
Read full statement below :
HARARE DEMOLITIONS: A HEARTLESS ACT
The MDC Alliance condemns the callous, disproportionate demolitions of homes
that are currently being carried out by Central Government, in particular the
Ministry of Local Government – Mr July Moyo, the Provincial Minister – Mr
Oliver Chidawu and the Provincial Development Co-ordinator – Mr Tafadzwa
Muguti.
The demolitions have resulted in people losing their homes, savings and
their only available shelter in the middle of the rainy season.
Families with young
children, the old and the infirm have been rendered homeless by this heartless
act.
Before his arrest two weeks ago, the Mayor of Harare, Councillor Jacob Mafume
ordered a stop to all demolitions.
He protested against the grossly unreasonable
timing of the demolitions and in view of the wet season and the ongoing Covid19
pandemic.
He stated that the execution of any court orders held by Council
should be carried out in a humane manner and that Council should weigh in
favour of regularizing settlements as opposed to destroying them.
We are of the
firm view that most of the houses being destroyed can be regularized and should
therefore not be destroyed.
At the centre of the crisis are Zanu PF land barons and illegal co-operatives
whose corrupt conduct has led to the arbitrary allocation of land in a manner that
does not comply with council by-laws.
The current demolitions have been
triggered by Zanu PF in-fighting where urban land is being used as an election
tool as well as a sword against those who have fallen out of favour with the
system.
Unsuspecting members of the public and bona fide buyers who have
been duped by the land barons and are left to bear the brunt of the illegality.
Additionally, it is reported that the Provincial Minister for Harare, Mr Oliver
Chidawu has an interest in the demolition of houses because a large section of
the land which the Zanu PF land barons and co-operatives raided belongs to him.
The Provincial Minister took advantage of the absence of the Mayor over the last
fortnight to push council staff to execute the demolitions.
We demand an immediate end to the demolitions as they are anti-poor and their
timing is causing untold suffering and indignity to people who are already
victims of corrupt land barons. We further demand and end to Central
Government interference in the affairs of the City of Harare.
The Harare
Provincial Minstry must stop giving unlawful instructions to council staff,
particularly when this causes loss and harm to the people whom council are
meant to serve.
We call for the urgent implementation of the devolution clauses in the
Constitution and reform to the Urban Councils Act to enable local authorities to
serve the people without interference from Central Government.
Sesel Zvidzai
Secretary for Local Government
