By A Correspondent| Lower Hillside residents are up in arms with an alleged President Emmerson Mnangagwa aide who has grabbed an open space at the corner of Glenara and Chiremba Road to set up a car sale business.

According to a ZimEye source, when residents and the area councillor confronted him, he did not produce an offer letter from council but some card which served as proof his proximity to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

After he produced his defence card, the Councillor and residents are now scared to confront him to stop the illegal development.

Residents fear that the development which has already seen the whole area including cycle and pedestrian track being fenced will result in msasa trees being cut down in the process damaging the environment.

“There a chap who annexed piece of council land. The said chap has fenced the area located at glenara and chiremba robots on the hillside side. Looks like he wants to set up car sale and most likely cut down the old msasa trees in that area. Neighbourhood association and councilor have tried to get him out but as soon as he said his defence of protection – card, works in president office or connected to him, everyone chickened out,” said the ZimEye source.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has in the past complained about namedroppers who use his name to get away with crime or getting access to opportunities.

A source at the City of Harare said the local authority is equally worried about these sprouting developments linked to top offices.

The local councillor and Hillside Neighborhood committee could not be reached for a comment on the development but are believed to have tried to approach the person who could only produce his defence card.