CHITUNGWIZA - Government issued a three-week ultimatum yesterday to Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural District Council residents to destroy their illegally constructed houses.
The houses in question are those built on wetlands, under sewer pipes and under powerline servitudes and are still under construction.
Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo said land barons will be arrested soon.
“With the assistance of commissioner(-general Augustine) Chihuri all land barons who are selling stands that do not belong to them will be dealt with,” Chombo said.
Chombo issued the warning at an all stakeholders’ meeting attended by a government delegation including his deputy Joel Biggie Matiza, Environment minister Savoiur Kasukuwere, minister of State for Harare Miriam Chikukwa and SMEs minister Sithembiso Nyoni.
“We categorically say no to this kind of human rights,” Chombo said.
“We are going to give three weeks to voluntarily demolish and relocate, failure of which government, with the able assistance of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, will act.”
The minister castigated what he termed “erstwhile detractors” who are using donor funds to frustrate government programmes through court action, an action he said was futile.
Using a carrot and stick approach, Chombo said those who will demolish their houses first will be issued with a certificate of demolition and will be the first to be allocated new stands at Dunnotar Farm.
Phillip Mutoti, the town’s mayor, said residents should just demolish their illegally constructed houses as the minister has ordered.
“ I have nothing more to say, people should just follow what the minister has said,” the mayor said to the Daily News.