Zanu-PF slams Chombo inspired house demolitions

ZANU-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa says houses in Harare and Chitungwiza that were targeted for demolition will be spared, as destroying homes goes against objectives of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.

Addressing a Zanu-PF inter-district Youth League conference at the party headquarters in Harare yesterday, Mutasa - who is also Minister of State for Presidential Affairs - said demolishing houses was insensitive.

The targeted houses were scheduled for destruction as they were built on undesignated land.

"We are not in support of the demolitions as they are against the Zim-Asset policy in which we are trying to provide houses to the people.

"The houses are not going to be demolished.

"The houses which are being destroyed in Harare cannot be compared to those which people in the rural areas live in.

"(Operation) Murambatsvina (in 2005) came and we were despised and we do not want a repeat.

"My question is: where were the relevant authorities when the houses were completed to roof level? Why have they decided to act now?

"We have housing programmes in place which should be taken seriously and I understand that there is also lack of employment in Harare.

"But employment tallies with the Zim-Asset policy, encouraging people to do their own things."

Mutasa also urged the youths to safeguard national sovereignty.

At the same event, Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Francis Nhema raised his concern that Youth Fund beneficiaries were yet to repay the loans.

Mutasa weighed in, saying efforts would be made to recover the money.