HARARE - Simon Chidhakwa, the legislator for Zengeza West (MDC) has dared government to arrest land barons fingered in the illegal land allocations in Chitungwiza, saying demolishing houses is not the solution.
Government, through the ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban development was stopped by a court interdict as it moved to destroy the illegal houses.
However, nothing has been done to the land barons who lined their pockets by illegally parcelling out stands.
Chidhakwa says government’s inaction smacks of double standards.
“If government was sincere, the land barons could have been arrested. Who committed a crime the land barons or the ones allocated the stands?” asked Chidhakwa.
Although the courts ruled that council, which is acting on the orders of Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, can only proceed with the demolitions after following procedures laid down in the country’s laws, residents still fear their houses could be demolished.
“Government is not sincere, the building of houses took place under the minister’s nose, why was he quiet, these houses were not built overnight, the ministry should have taken action at that time,” said Chidhakwa.
Residents moved to block the demolitions after the municipality had started destroying houses in Zengeza.
Fredrick Mabamba, one of the land barons, has since been suspended from Chitungwiza Town Council where he is a councillor.
But he insists that his dealings were above board.