Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Government’s clean-up, restoration, order and safety programme has gathered momentum across Manicaland Province, with authorities intensifying enforcement against vendors operating in undesignated areas and owners of illegally constructed properties.
The province-wide operation forms part of a national drive to restore order within communities and improve the built environment by targeting unlicenced vending, illegal hawking, unauthorised tuck-shops, car washes, gas outlets, fast-food outlets, and buildings erected without approved plans.
Government recently extended the programme by issuing immediate abatement orders to owners of dilapidated and undesirable structures in all 92 local authorities, directing them to repair and maintain properties and their surroundings to standards prescribed by local authorities.
The directive covers shopping centres, business complexes, industrial sites, office buildings, churches, other places of worship, and private residential properties.
In Mutare, the operation moved into action on Wednesday as more than 40 police officers, supported by other security services, were deployed to enforce the programme.
The deployment followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by Mutare District Development Coordinator, Mr Tendai Kapenzi, attended by representatives from Mutare City Council, Mutare Rural District Council, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, and Environmental Management Agency, among other institutions.
Addressing the meeting, Mr Kapenzi said the programme was being implemented through a whole-of-government approach, with every stakeholder expected to play a role in ensuring its success.
Mr Kapenzi said: “This programme is taking a whole -of-government approach in its execution. Every stakeholder here has a role to play to see the success of this executive directive. We will not discriminate against anyone, but implement according to the law,” said Mr Kapenzi, warning against any name-dropping during the exercise.
“We will not be tolerating any kind of name-dropping. No one is above the law. No one is going to be spared for any reason when they are selling from an undesignated place. We are not ambushing anyone because the message has been sent, out and in any case those operating from undesignated areas are aware of that,” he said.
The clean-up operation in Mutare targeted hot spots in the Central Business District like Bata Shoe Company area, Meikles Park, as well as residential areas of Sakubva, Dangamvura and Chikanga.
Speaking during the meeting, Mutare District Council Engineer and acting Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Drought Musungo, said: “Mutare Rural District Council has issued enforcement orders to properties that were constructed illegally. The 30-days ultimatum has elapsed, so while we await some legal initiatives that we are undertaking, which might take a bit longer, we will be going on the ground to restore sanity.
“We are moving ahead to Chitakatira, Gombakomba, Picky, Bezel Bridge, Marange, and ARDA Transau areas. There are numerous areas within our jurisdiction that we allocated vending areas, but we have noticed that people are reluctant to move into these areas. They are literally ignoring these designated areas. This is why we are taking the enforcement route whereby we will be confiscating their wares.”
Chipinge District Development Coordinator, Mr William Mashava, said they are also seized with the matter, and a number of areas have been identified as hot spots of vending in undesignated areas as well as illegal construction of houses or buildings without the relevant approvals.
“We have a number of areas within the Central Business District in Chipinge such as TM Supermarket as well as the local bus terminus area, Gabaza area, Chinheya, Gaza O, Gaza E, OK Supermarket area where the supermarket has not been fully functioning and vendors have taken advantage of that situation to flood the area.
“We also have rural sites like Tanganda, Birchenough, whole of Checheche, Chisumbanje, Mundanda and Chako that have similar problems. We will be extensively covering all these areas, not only targeting vendors operating in undesignated areas, but also houses or buildings that were constructed without the relevant approvals,” said Mashava.
Makoni District Development Coordinator, Mr Edwin Mashindi, said much of their burden is on vending from undesignated areas mainly in the CBD.
“Vending in undesignated places within the CBD is rampant, but in the suburbs they are a bit more organised though there could be one or two that could be operating on undesignated sites. We have set dates to meet, and the operation to restore sanity is certainly coming. We are moving ahead with programme, and soon we will be updating on the progress we have made,” he said.
Chimanimani District Development Coordinator, Mr Vivian Mateta, said they are also targeting areas where illegal structures have been erected, while places where vending in undesignated sites is happening have also been identified.
“Yes, we have several hot spots of vending in undesignated sites within Chimanimani District. We also have structures that were erected illegally and this will also be covered in this clean-up, restoration, order and safety programme. As we speak, the local authority is finalising a comprehensive report on the targeted areas and the modus operandi that will be employed to restore sanity. We will be announcing all that once it is finalised by the relevant offices,” he said.
