Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
Harare City Council has alleged that land barons are building houses in three days, exploiting legal loopholes to solidify their hold on illegally acquired land, taking advantage of the law, which prohibits any authority to demolish a house without a court order.
This is said to be the latest tactic in a sophisticated scheme that sees them building a house over a weekend, then using the courts as a delaying tactic to complete the structure.
The issue came to light during a meeting between Local Government and Public Works, Minister Daniel Garwe, Harare councillors and city executives.
“Minister, we have a challenge, land barons are so cunning that they can complete a cottage within three days,” Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore said.
“For example, they might begin construction on a Friday, work through Saturday and have the cottage finished by Sunday evening.
“When council enforcement agents arrive on Monday, they find completed houses and the law requires us to obtain a court order first before taking action.”
Councillor Ngadziore also claimed that land barons are deliberately taking the city to court as a delaying tactic, even though they know they have no legal claim to the land.
“If you tell them to vacate, the land barons are usually the first ones to take the city council to court as a delaying tactic,” he added.
“By the time the court process ends, a double-storey house or a main house will be complete. That is why sometimes we end up demolishing finished houses because these land barons have mastered the art of delaying.”
Minister Garwe promised to investigate the matter but urged councillors to stop colluding with land barons, adding that change must begin with them shunning corruption.
He also urged the council to find ways to stop the expansion of illegal settlements and the tendency to wait for people to complete building before obtaining a court order.
The Constitution, specifically Section 74, protects individuals from arbitrary eviction and demolition of their homes.
This means that a court order must be obtained before any demolition can take place, and the court must consider all relevant circumstances before making such an order.
However, land barons are reportedly misusing this law by suing the council and filing endless appeals, allowing them to complete building before council demolitions can proceed, while shifting the blame on the council.
Online Reporter