Zanu-PF supporters in anti-Chombo protest

Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo's woes worsened Monday after more than a thousand Chitungwiza residents staged a demonstration against demolitions of "illegal structures" in Harare's dormitory town.

A week ago Chombo found himself at the centre of a storm after traditional leaders accused him of trying to use them in his quest to fight for the Zanu-PF presidency.

The minister has not responded to the allegations which have also sucked in President Robert Mugabe's Gushungo clan.

Chombo reportedly chickened out from addressing residents at Chitungwiza Town Council offices, in Zengeza following the expiry of his three-week ultimatum to have the structures demolished.

Monday's protest, sanctioned and escorted by the police, was fronted by Zanu-PF youths who sang revolutionary songs denouncing the minister, castigating him for being the "heartless" brains behind the demolitions.

In one of the songs the residents denigrated Chombo as a weapon of destruction, chanting "Chombo, Chombo chehondo".

Town clerk George Makunde said the demolitions would not be stopped by a court order obtained by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.