Zanu-PF youths stop destruction of car sales

Zanu-PF youths yesterday stopped the destruction of illegal car sales in the capital, saying the move was against indigenisation.

Provincial youth chairman Jim Kunaka and Tongai Nheta led the youths.

Kunaka referred questions to the party's provincial chairman of the indigenisation committee, Noah Mangondo.

Mangondo said it was clear that the city was targeting car sales owned by people aligned to Zanu-PF.

"The city is going against the indigenisation programme. It is also selectively targeting people aligned to Zanu-PF," he said.

Mangondo alleged that some senior council officials were receiving bribes to license dealers aligned to the MDC-T.

"When those aligned to us try to offer the incentives, they are denied and told they belong to the wrong party," he said.

Mangondo said if the city was serious with the demolitions, it should practice fairness.

"We are very angry with what the city is doing to our people," he said.

City spokesman Mr Leslie Gwindi alleged that Cde Kunaka and Cde Nheta physically abused council officials who were demolishing the illegal car sales along Fereday Road in Eastlea.

He said council was approaching the police over the issue.

"Our guys were removing illegal sales along Fereday Road when Jim Kunaka and Tongai Nheta disrupted the exercise," said Mr Gwindi.

"We are upset by their thuggish behaviour. They argued the exercise was only targeting Zanu-PF car dealers and sparing those aligned to the MDC-T."

Mr Gwindi said the exercise was non-partisan and geared to bring sanity to the capital as part of the Vision 2025 which seeks to make Harare a world class city.

Car dealers also slammed the exercise, arguing that the city council was out to thwart black empowerment.

The city council is issuing 48-hour demolition notices to car dealers and asking them to remove their vehicles and built-up structures.

Councillors say that the mushrooming illegal car sales distort the beauty of the city.