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The countries main opposition party MDC Alliance has condemned the demolition of houses in Harare by the City Council labelling it as an inhuman act while demanding an end to the act.
MDC Alliance states that prior to the arrest of Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume had ordered a stop all demolitions protesting against the grossly unreasonable timing of the demolitions and in view of the wet season and the ongoing Covid19 pandemic.
The demolitions have resulted in people losing their homes, savings and their only available shelter in the middle of the rainy season. Families with young children, the old and the infirm have been rendered homeless by this heartless act.
Harare City Council on Wednesday demolished 190 houses in Budiriro 5.
In a statement on Thursday MDC Alliance said , “ The MDC Alliance condemns the callous, disproportionate demolitions of homes that are currently being carried out by Central Government, in particular the Ministry of Local Government – Mr July Mayo, the Provincial Minister – Mr Oliver Chidawu and the Provincial Development Co-ordinator – Mr Tafadzwa Muguti.”
MDC alleges that the current demolitions have been triggered by Zanu PF in-fighting where urban land is being used as an election tool as well as a sword against those who have fallen out of favour with the system.
Unsuspecting members of the public and bona fide buyers who have been duped by the land barons and are left to bear the brunt of the illegality.
“We are of the firm view that most of the houses being destroyed can be regularized and should therefore not be destroyedAt the centre of the crisis are Zanu PF land barons and illegal co-operatives whose corrupt conduct has led to the arbitrary allocation of land in a manner that does not comply with council by-laws.”
“We demand an immediate end to the demolitions as they are anti-poor and their timing is causing untold suffering and indignity to people who are already victims of corrupt.”
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