Mandiwanzira blames councils over illegal housing demolitions

ZANU PF Secretary for Local Government Supa Mandiwanzira has criticised local authorities for approving building plans on illegally acquired land, saying councils must share responsibility when homes are later demolished after residents have invested their life savings.

Speaking on the issue of illegal settlements, Mandiwanzira said it was heartbreaking to watch families lose homes they had spent years building, particularly elderly residents left devastated by demolitions.

He maintained, however, that structures erected on illegally acquired land cannot be allowed to remain, regardless of how long they have existed or whether homeowners have been paying municipal rates.

Mandiwanzira questioned why councils approve building plans and collect rates from residents only to later declare the same properties illegal.

"You build this house over three years, you move in, you stay for five years, you pay rates every month and your money is received and receipted. After five years, the council comes to you and says where you built your house is illegal. Where was the council when they were approving it?" he said.

He argued that councils become complicit when they authorise developments that are later deemed unlawful.

"If someone builds a house illegally, the council is part of the illegality for approving it in the first place," he said.

Mandiwanzira called for stronger coordination between the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, the Ministry of National Housing and his party's structures to ensure all housing developments and stand sales are properly vetted before construction begins.

He said improved oversight would protect homebuyers from investing in illegal developments and reduce the need for painful demolitions.

"When that video circulates on social media, people look at us and say we only care about votes. We have a responsibility to make sure that does not happen to our people," he said.

His remarks come amid growing public concern over the demolition of homes built on illegally allocated land, with many affected residents arguing they were misled into believing their properties had been properly approved after councils accepted building plans and continued to collect rates.