Government is clueless on how to combat land barons as many desperate home seekers continue to be duped of their hard-earned cash.
By Nyasha Ngonidzashe Mukapiko
This surfaced at a press conference held in the capital yesterday, which sought to establish the legality of the recent wave of demolitions that hit the Arlington Estate, where City Council demolished several houses.
Permanent secretary in the ministry of Local Government Publics Works and National Housing George Mlilo, dodged questions asked by journalist while simultaneously obstructing deputy minister Christopher Chingosho to respond to some of the queries raised.
Deputy Minister Chingosho reiterated that his ministry was concerned by the sprouting of illegal settlements and the subsequent demolitions of the settlements.
“As a ministry we are striving to facilitate the provision of decent and affordable housing to the populace, in this regard we have created a conducive environment through flexible policies for very actor to participate in human settlement development so as to bring back sanity in the housing delivery sector as we endeavor to make a dent on our huge national housing backlog”, deputy minister Chingosho said in a statement.
The deputy minister also encouraged other stakeholders to fully participate in the house delivery sector saying that government alone was failing to fulfill its mandate of providing decent accommodation to its people.
Land barons fleecing residents’ money were warned to stop the illegal parceling out of land as they will face the full-wrath of law.
Deputy Minister Chingosho hinted residents to verify facts with the ministry and local authorities before parting away with their cash.
Civil society organizations which represent residents have repeatedly questioned why government has to wait for residents to complete erecting structures then come and demolish, especially when it is during rainy season.
The recent demolitions near the airport are said to have been orchestrated by president Mugabe at the official opening of Joshua Nkomo road late last year when he said the looming settlement was an eyesore to visitors but, news popping from the state media suggest the land belongs to the Civil Aviation Authority and is meant for airport expansion.
Zimbabwe’s new constitution, adopted in May 2013, states that, in chapter 2, under section 28: “It is the duty of the state and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within the limits of the resources available to them, to enable every person to have access to adequate shelter.”
Those behind the parceling out of land have been linked to the ruling party; it’s no secret as Zanu-PF flags fly alongside the national flag. Philip Chiyangwa, who claims to be related to Robert Mugabe, is believed to be central to the illegal land grabs. The controversial businessman is currently at loggerheads with residents of Southlea Park surburb.
Another Zanu PF bigwig often fingered in the land disputes, Dr Ignatious Chombo, who was the head of local government ministry for 15 was last year reshuffled from the ministry, a move which Observers perceive as a way of cleaning up the mess he had caused in the housing fratenity.
Another Zanu-PF member, Energy Mutodi, was dragged before the courts early last year for allegedly defrauding $300 000 from desperate home-seekers through his company, National Housing Development Trust. It’s some of these houses, built on irregularly acquired land, that are now being demolished.
Photo credit:The Herald
