Chronicle Editor
Prince Sunduzani, Chronicle Reporter
BEITBRIDGE Town Council will soon clamp down on squatters in the town as they are a criminal nuisance and are posing a health hazard, authorities have said.
In an interview yesterday, Beitbridge Town Secretary Mr Loud Ramakgapola said the local authority is seeking a court order to evict the illegal settlers.
The illegal settlers from all over the country are said to be occupying mainly an area behind Dulivhadzimu clinic and others are scattered all over the border town.
“We want to get rid of these squatters from the town, and we have sought a court order to that effect. The matter will be heard on Tuesday and we will then take action. These people are engaging in criminal activities in the town so we want them gone,” he said.
“As a town we are worried, we can’t have a town with illegal settlers. If anyone wishes to put up a structure, they should have authorisation from the authorities.”
Mr Ramakgapola said the squatters should go back to their homes.
“These people do not have proper ablution facilities, and they bath in the open, you can’t even go near the place. They have nothing to do and we understand at night they go into the central business district and steal. If they do not have anywhere proper to stay they should just go back to their places of origin,” he said.
Squatters have posed serious problems for many local authorities in the country, with those in Bulawayo going to the extent of setting up informal schools.
Last month, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education closed down an illegal school at Ngozi Mine squatter camp.
Some of the illegal settlers have lived at the dumpsite squatter camp for decades with efforts to evict them yielding no positive results. — @PrinceNksoy102
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