Govt condemns 'inhumane' Belvedere murambatswina

The Government has denounced the Harare City Council for demolishing houses in Ridgeview Belvedere, describing the action as "shocking, callous, and inhumane." The demolitions, conducted over the past two weeks, reportedly targeted homes allegedly built without proper authorization, sparking widespread outrage.

Government officials, led by Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, expressed shock that council had proceeded with the demolitions without obtaining a court order. Ziyambi announced that an investigation has been launched to scrutinize the council's actions.

"In this particular case, it is the Municipality of Harare that demolished without a court order. They are the ones who allowed the buildings to be constructed, only to later demolish them without due legal process," Minister Ziyambi told Parliament on Tuesday.

Harare City Council issued a statement acknowledging the demolition of 30 structures on 52 residential stands within Ridgeview Belvedere. The council claimed these structures were erected without formal approval and cited a 2021 decision to value the stands as residential plots. However, council alleged that a private company, Brickstone Builders and Contractors, led an invasion of the land and established makeshift cabins on several plots.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe condemned the council's unilateral action, noting that his ministry had instructed the mayor and town clerk to halt demolitions. "We distance ourselves from this behavior. Central Government has nothing to do with it," Garwe stated. However, he emphasized that while housing is a constitutional right, citizens must avoid building illegal structures.

The demolitions have sparked outrage among affected residents and the broader community. Everson Sika, a concerned citizen, criticized the council for "inflicting pain on innocent residents," accusing them of double standards by allowing developments in wetland areas while tearing down homes on residential land.

Lilian Chaka, another resident, questioned the council's timing, saying, "It defies logic to remove people who were scammed with fake documents. The council should have acted sooner to prevent this. They're not showing any pity to those who were deceived."

Government officials echoed the community's concerns, calling on local authorities to adopt a more humane approach to housing disputes and prevent such situations from escalating into painful demolitions.