Govt investigates demolitions of houses in Harare

KUDAKWASHE CHIBVURI

Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has said  the government has opened an investigation into the house demolitions that were done by the Harare City Council.

In response to questions from Parliamentarians this week regarding the reasons behind the demolitions, Ziyambi said  no court order had been obtained and that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration was not   involved.

“…in this particular case, it is the Municipality of Harare that demolished the houses without a court order. They are the ones that have been allowing the buildings to be built. They are the ones that have been demolished, you can go and check. We have requested that this be investigated,” Ziyambi said.

It comes after the Harare City Council declared that it had intervened to stop land barons from unlawfully distributing land in the Belvedere suburb, especially in Ridgeview, where unapproved construction had been taking place.

It is alleged that some of the councillors have vested interest in the Belvedere area and were purportedly creating  space for their own members and officials in this affluent suburb

In contrast to the residents’ assertions, Samuel Nyabeza, the acting director of planning, told Business Times that the residents’ supplied documents were fraudulent.

 He  asserted that the council had alerted them about the demolitions.

“We have all the paperwork from the council,” one resident told Business Times.

Another resident said: “Yes, demolitions occurred, but it doesn’t add up that some houses were left standing. It’s not right, especially when these houses belong to councilors’ relatives.”

Blessing Duma, a Ward 29 councilor and the chairman of the audit committee, who also served as the chairman  of the environmental management committee, accused officials and councilors of corruption.

” l am extremely against the demolitions that are happening in Belvedere, it’s above board. The officials took the law in their hands,” Duma said.

He added: ” For demolitions to occur there were supposed to be full council resolutions. Where did they get the permission from.”