Harare city council has expressed concern over the sprouting of illegal settlements in most parts of the capital.
Lovejoy Mutongwiza/Samuel Takawira
The concern was raised yesterday by Harare Acting Town clerk Mrs. Josephine Ncube while addressing journalists.
She said illegal settlers hinder land administration, therefore the City Council would follow the applicable procedures to remove informal settlers.
“Today’s press conference on illegal settlement is probably the last one we are going to have before real action is taken against the law breakers. We have on numerous occasions issued warnings in the hope that the perpetrators/invaders of municipal land would understand and see reason.
“We have however noticed that each time we issued warnings and prohibitions orders some people took advantage of our humane approach and decided to entrench their illegal activities.
“It would be unfair not to mention that some land of the land invasions are “politically” motivated with the leaders of the invasions falsely aligning themselves with political parties. We have done our research and established that no political party wants to tarnish their images by engaging in illegal activities when they can use the law to obtain residential land for the people,” she said
The Acting Town Clerk said that people who have invaded suburbs like Crowborough and the Eyestone area will be the most affected.
“By this notice, we are calling on all people that invaded Crowborough, Churu and Eyestone farms to move out on their own before we take action. Allowing people to stay in Crowborough Farm is a traverse of justice. The farm is used for wastewater treatment. This means that any human settlement in that area is a risk to health of all Harare Residents. We cannot allow human settlement on a wastewater farm. There is a huge risk of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and other waterborne diseases. Crowborough Farm is a big NO.
“It has come to our attention that some people have sold land to gullible residents at Crowborough Farm. This is very criminal,” charged Mrs Ncube.
She went on to warn home-seekers to guide against losing thousands of dollars to suspected fraudsters who are invite them to contribute to a fictitious housing schemes.
Said Mrs Ncube, “Anyone interested in securing municipal housing land should approach council. Paying for municipal land to third parties is actually sinking your investment in a deep well where you will not be able to retrieve it.”
She said council has engaged the police to remove all illegal settlements.
Some of the areas that will be affected are Dzivarasekwa, Glenview, Kuwadzana,Mufakose,Kambuzuma,Glen norah and Hatcliffe.
