Sanity should prevail in the housing cooperatives

An attentive examination of the existing state of affairs seems to suggest that sanity should prevail in the housing cooperatives in Harare. The city has been overwhelmed by a plethora of housing cooperatives both legal and illegal.

We all know and acknowledge that people need shelter and there is need to correct this anomaly in an orderly manner. We need to respect our country's laws, irrespective of political affiliation. Let sanity prevail just for once. We demolished illegal structures to clean the city but it seems we are creating disorder again. The rule of law is intrinsically good for our society.

The situation has not been helped by MDC-T leadership, especially in urban councils, as they have been notorious for parceling out stand as in-fills to line their pockets.

Housing cooperatives are not supposed to develop stands without Environmental Impact Assessment first which should bring out issues like how solid and liquid waste would be managed and what open spaces would be left.

MDC should stop labeling ZANU-PF supporters because political affiliation is not a crime. The MDC failed to address the housing backlog, even when it was part of the inclusive government. Now they are paying lip service to a real problem, just whitewashed tombstones which are full of extortions and rapacity.

Let us just not politicize issues here; there are council by laws. Why not follow them. But people need houses. That's a fact and ZANU PF can facilitate that. We all need roof over our heads. Paying rentals is not easy when you are not formerly employed. Look at Epworth, it has been around for years but thousands call it their home. We have a lot of poor brothers among us.

We say give the people land and let the MDC shoot itself in the foot trying to de-campaign the exercise. MDC-T has been in control of that territory for more than a decade and they failed that land to expand their support base. There is no need to cry foul; you were in charge and still in charge. You have never given people land or stands. In fact you looted for self aggrandizement.

That is why we call them activists, they are still very far from being politicians, right now they are making the loudest noise but ZANU PF will press ahead with its plan as outlined in its economic blue print Zim Asset. If it was the case of law we should not have taken or repossessed our land. The same MDC-T members are still cross about land reform programme saying it was chaotic but new farmers are enjoying their farming freely, now come stands to people they are fighting against that.

If stands are being allocated in a chaotic manner Government and council should get them organised instead of destroying their houses. Moreover relevant authorities should not allow illegal structures sprouting while their hands are at akimbo or sitting on their laurels.

By criticizing the allocation of stands to poor people by ZANU PF, MDC has proved that it wants to see people suffer in its endeavour to effect regime change. Thank God that was heavily thumbed in the previous elections.