Of illegal settlers and demolitions

There has been much hype on the issue of housing land, land barons, illegal settlers and demolitions for quite a long time, but solutions to this problem seem to eluding council officials.

Previously, the media has been awash with disgraceful articles stating different dimensions on the issue of housing land. Some sections of the media reported that desperate land seekers were now erecting structures on land reserved for burial sites at Granville Cemetery, popularly known as Kumbudzi whilst others were unlawfully erecting structures on wet lands. Council of Harare should take responsibility and address the anomaly that it does have to reach this sad point.

Land barons have mushroomed under the noises of council duping home seekers of their hard earned funds by allocating them on illegal land. The case in point is the Arlington Estate saga. It is actually surprising how officials who approved such illegal land to home seekers and now pointing fingers absolving themselves of all blame. It is heartening to note that government has instituted an inquiry in the activities of such officials most of whom were given brides no doubt.

Home seekers have now lost confidence in the whole process as at the end of the day they lose their home and monies whilst the land barons are left scotch free. On the other hand people seeking housing stands should ensure that they go through all necessary paper work that should be done before building structures on allocated land. When demolitions are underway, it may seem as if the Government is being unjust, but alas, the law should take its course.  The unlawful settlers at Arlington estate were last year advised to pull down their structures on their own in order to save tiles, window and door frames. However, some complied while others refused the councils' order which then led to the invitation of bulldozers to demolish their homes.

Opposition MDC led by Welshman Ncube has been criticizing MDC-T councillors and Government alleging that the demolitions were forced displacement. Opposition parties should stop the blame game and start working. Most councillors in Harare belong to the opposition, MDC-T party. These councillors have a pivotal role to play in organizing land in the city. For instance, Harare municipality should have identified long back that people erecting their structures at Arlington estate were settling unlawfully. Councillors should not sleep on duty, instead they should move around and assess the real situation on the ground and take measures before it's too late.

On the other hand, MDC-T councillors could have been connived with MDC-T hoodlums in demolishing the structures.  How could the city fathers leave people constructing structures on illegal land? In other words, the Mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni and his councillors had an agenda of tarnishing ZANU-PF led Government. Surely, Council officials should be visible on the ground.


Had it not been that President Mugabe noticed and expressed displeasure over the illegal structures on an opening section of Joshua Nkomo Road, the illegal settlers could have continued mushrooming on that area.

Pleasing to note is that Government, which has the people at heart, is offering the displaced families legal stands in Stoneridge.    

The Housing sector should try to offer available stands to home seekers so as to lessen the issue of illegal settlements. Housing is an important component of investment. And in many countries housing makes up the largest component of wealth. Therefore, issuing of housing stands to people is part of development. Availing housing stands to home seekers is also one of the objectives of the economic blue print, Zim-Asset.

Conclusively, land at Arlington estate is supposed to be reserved for the expansion of the Harare International Airport. Period.