Illegal DZ houses face demolition

Government has said.

Last Saturday, over 600 homeowners in the area were asked to submit proof of ownership of the residential stands by Monday this week.
Only 200 people complied and those who did not take heed have been told to either vacate or risk being forcibly removed.

National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Giles Mutsekwa said beneficiaries of the stands were identified in 1998 and since then have been paying a development levy through the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe.

According to Minister Mutsekwa, the illegal settlers reportedly bought their stands from third parties and were not registered with the ministry.
“We discovered that there are illegal settlers without sanction from the relevant authorities this year when servicing of the area started,” he said.
Servicing has since stopped as the ministry says it needs to weed out the illegal settlers first.

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Roads have been constructed although they are not yet tarred.
The area has no electricity while the settlers draw water from wells and use pit latrines.
The bonafide beneficiaries are bitter because they have been paying service fees while the illegal ones are not.

Mr Tongai Mufari (45), a former soldier and bonafide beneficiary, said the late former Housing Minister Cde Enos Chikowore founded the scheme for low income civil servants and it was unfair for some people to just claim the stands.
“I have been paying for my stand since 1995 and moved here in 2002. There are those who got their stands through corruption who were never civil servants and never paid a cent for servicing.”

One of the tenants at the illegal houses Mrs Mary Mutukwa said most people in those structures were lodgers.
“Most of us here are lodgers and we have informed the homeowners about the instruction from the ministry and we do not know the status.
“So we are now looking for accommodation because we are sure that the demolition will happen.

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“Before the meeting on Monday, ministry officials came with police escort and informed us that we would have to get out.”
Minister Mutsekwa said his ministry had already identified an alternative area to relocate those who would be found to be illegally occupying stands.
“The illegal settlers should vacate immediately and give way to legitimate beneficiaries,” he said.

He urged the illegal settlers to come forward and register with his Ministry, open savings accounts with IDBZ and contribute towards servicing of their own areas.
“Let me hasten to say that all illegal construction and settlement in DZ Phase 2 should stop immediately, or we’ll be forced to seek the help of law enforcement agents for compliance,” he said.

Minister Mutsekwa said illegal occupation of the area was an indicator that there was critical accommodation shortage in Harare and his Ministry would do its best to address the matter.
Contacted for comment, Harare City Council director for housing Mr Justin Chivavaya said the area in question was State land and the municipality was not involved.