adminTanaka Nyambo
HARARE City Council is concerned about the surge in land invasions and illegal settlements in several suburbs as land barons continue to create fake allocation letters, receipts and plans.
These cases are being referred to the relevant law enforcement agents and the City’s Audit Division for prosecution.
Council spokesperson, Innocent Ruwende, said land barons were deceiving desperate home seekers by lying that once they settle on these spaces, Council will regularise them.
In a bid to try and regularise old settlements, which suit the regularisation template generated by the City, the Council is cracking down on fresh land invasions.
It has advised residents that Section 49 of the RTCP Act has no provision for regularisation in retrospect of settlements located in reservation sites such as wetlands and recreational parks.
The Development Control Section has a database of old and fresh illegal land invasions and residents are being advised to remove the structures themselves or risk inevitable demolition.
“Land barons literally force the beneficiaries to put up illegal structures under the cover of night and weekends and demand that someone must reside in these mostly wooden cabins and substandard structures.
“This is clear misinterpretation and abuse of Section 74 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which requires local authorities to obtain a court order, in order to remove an illegal structure being used as a home.
“City of Harare’s broader and strategic vision of achieving a World Class City Status is clearly under threat due to illegal activities of land barons,” said Ruwende.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter