Own Correspondent
In a dire warning for Harare residents Information Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana has stated that government will be carrying out demolitions of illegal houses.
The warning, which follows other demolitions by Council, follows allegations of connicance between Council officials and land barons.
Mangwana has however said the coming operation will aim for all involved parties.
“Expect demolitions of illegal structures, arrests of illegal vendors, land barons, sand and water poachers, money changers, closure of unregistered businesses and closing of unlicensed shops in Harare”.
“Lawlessness is being clamped on”, he said in a social media message.
Earlier this year Harare City Council also issued a warning to owners of illegal structures that if they do not remove the structures voluntarily, the council will step in and demolish them.
In a statement issued on their official Facebook account, the council also advised illegal tuckshop operators not to pay money to individuals claiming to have the authority to save their structures from removal.
In a joint statement by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for the Harare Metropolitan Province, Oliver Chidawu, and Harare Mayor, Herbert Gomba, government justified the demolitions that have taken place in Mbare, Highfields and other areas in Harare, stating that they were paving way for an orderly post COVID-19 period where optimum revenue collection by the local councils would be realised.
Many illegal settlement have been created around Harare with allegations that Council officials are working illegally with land barons.
Earlier this year over 15 top Council officials including former Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, were arrested over illegal land deals.
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