Widen Blitz On Land Barons, Corruption in Municipalities
January 14, 2021
Swedish born moral philosopher Sissela Bok once said people often understate the harm of lying and deceit by only analysing it from the perspective of the liar.
Bok says lies must also be considered from the perspective of the deceived, because lies give power to the liar and take away power from the person being lied to.
She notes several points relevant to Zimbabwe’s current situation, where local authorities have over the years been paying lip-service and feeding ratepayers with lies on what they can do in service provision, while running down the cities.
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Demolitions – a Case of Stolen Human Dignity
January 15, 2021
Zimbabwe has a long but sad history of demolishing houses designated as illegal with the hallmark being the May 2005 government-led Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order. The brutal exercise directly affected 700 000 people and 2,4 million others indirectly, according to the United Nations (UN).
The urban clean-up exercise had far-reaching consequences on the populace with the UN condemning the act as a “disastrous venture” and in violation of international law. Post-2005, the urban housing demolitions have become a continuum rather than episodic.
Several inhumane experiences of homes razed to the ground have been witnessed mainly in Harare and Chitungwiza for the past 15 years as desperate home-seekers stand accused of building on illegal land.
SUSPENDED senior officials at Harare City Council and Chitungwiza Municipality with pending court cases are continuing to carry out official duties despite a clear Government directive that they stay away from work until their cases are finalised.
Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo late last year condemned the reinstatement of arrested and suspended employees saying there was no guarantee that they would not interfere with evidence or with witnesses.
Permanent Secretary Mr Zvinechimwe Churu recently warned councils against ignoring the calls by continuing to accommodate people with pending criminal cases.
Harare town clerk, Engineer Hosiah Chisango, last week was seen carrying out his duties at Town House while handing over a consignment of disposable protective clothing donated by the Chinese Embassy to City Health District Administrator Mr Oliver Chari.
THE MDC-led Chitungwiza Municipality is set to demolish over 11 000 properties, including houses illegally built on wetlands, railway servitudes and sewer lines, a leaked internal memo shows.
Interestingly, the targeted houses were built on stands allocated by the MDC Alliance-led council, while others were parcelled out by land barons.
Houses to be destroyed, most likely just after the end of the rainy season, were built on unsuitable land, including over sewer lines and under Zesa power lines.
This will further expose the lies of MDC Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa, who recently sought to blame the Government for demolitions when he visited families whose houses were demolished in Budiriro by Harare City Council, which is also MDC-dominated.