The Zimbabwean government has distanced itself from the recent demolitions of homes in Ridgeview, Belvedere, and has instructed the Harare City Council to stop any further destruction.
The demolitions, which took place last week, saw nearly 20 houses in Ridgeview demolished by the City of Harare, with officials claiming the homes were built on land illegally acquired through land barons. The council also indicated plans to extend the demolitions to other parts of the city where similar illegal structures had been identified.
However, in a statement to ZBC News on Tuesday, Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe clarified that the government was not involved in these actions. He revealed that the Harare City Council had moved forward with the demolitions without consulting his ministry.
The Minister issued an immediate order for the city council to stop any further demolitions until consultations were held with the relevant authorities. “We condemn the demolitions, and we have directed the mayor and town clerk to put a stop to this action. The central government distances itself from such actions,” Garwe emphasized.
While expressing the government’s support for citizens’ right to housing, Garwe stressed that such rights must not be abused through the creation of illegal settlements. “The new dispensation recognizes housing as a fundamental right, but we must also ensure that this right is exercised within the bounds of the law. People cannot simply build wherever they please,” he explained. “The law will still catch up with those who break it.”
The demolitions have sparked debate among residents. Some criticize illegal settlers for purchasing land from unlicensed land barons, arguing that they should have been more cautious. However, others point to the city’s chronic housing shortage as a driving force behind the rise in illegal construction, adding to the complexity of the issue.
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