adminTanaka Mahanya
HARARE Mayor, Jacob Mafume, has revealed they have received a petition from 10 organisations to protect wetlands under council jurisdiction.
He said they will respond by making sure they protect the wetlands.
The Mayor said they will not tolerate new invasions by people hoping for regularisation.
There must be a register of land barons to prosecute and get compensation from them.
He emphasised the importance of an orderly development of land. Mafume urged council district officers to issue pamphlets and warnings to residents to avoid being taken advantage of by land barons.
“We received a petition on 16 June from 10 organisations.
“What we are going to do is map these wetlands and protect them.
“I understand that there are new invasions by people hoping for regularisation.
“We need to clearly communicate that we are not going to tolerate new invasions and people must be warned that land barons are taking advantage of residents. We need to fence wetlands and put patrols around those properties because people will lose a lot,” he said.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter