By Wisdom Mumera
On Thursday Harare City Council carried out massive demolitions of several affluent houses in Belvedere, Ridgeview torching a storm of public anger.
Many couldn’t stomach how authorities allowed people to build such beautiful houses only to emerge to demolish them.
The Long Game
It has since emerged that the stands deal dates back to 2002.
The whole deal was built on an elaborate forging scheme.
Elaborately planned and executed the U$1.5 million scam was led by two individuals Lilian Chitanga (52) and Spencer Mabeka (45).
In 2002 Harare City Council approved the subdivision of a portion of land situated in Belvedere Ridge View into 52 residential stands.
The layout plan was TP2F 2219/3, however the plan was not implemented for the next 20 years.
A layout plan is a detailed map that demonstrates many elements surrounding a project.
The long period without any activity on the site created the loophole which the two land barons, Chitanga and Mabeka took advantage of.
Craftiness
In 2021, the duo, operating under an entity called Brickstone Builders and Contractors Private Limited forged a distribution letter.
It was for the approval of their layout plan which they backdated to April 2021.
They then forged another offer letter for the land under Layout plan TP2F2219/3 dated April 22, 2021.
Both documents were purported to have been authored and signed by Nathan Magadzire the Principal Director for Physical Planning in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
To commence the subdivision of the land as to be able to sell the stands, the two forged another offer letter.
This letter, purportedly done by Sibusiso Sithole from the Harare Council’s Department of Housing, offered Brickstone Builder 14.4354 hectares of land.
This was on stand numbers 18991 to 19042 under layout plan TP2F2219/3 dated December 15, 2015.
The Invasion
With all these documents in place the company invaded Belvedere Ridgeview and made plans to sell stands to desperate home-seekers.
Brickstone Builders and Construction engaged engaged an agent to carry out land development for 52 residential stands measuring 2000 square meters each.
As a result over 45 unsuspecting land seekers reached out to an agent who led them to the duo.
The stands were sold for a variety of prices ranging between US$25 000 and US$40 000.
As a mechanism to assure the stand buyers Brickstone Builders offered lease agreements and offer letters signed by Chitanga and Mabeka as land sellers.
After purchasing the said stands from the duo, buyers began erecting their housing structures on the said land.
Many of those who built, completed the houses, drilled boreholes and erected perimeter walls for some.
It was all set for a doomed ending.
Deja Vu
While the recent demolitions this week have raised anger, they are not the first to occur in the area.
According to court documents City of Harare found out about the development and demolished the structures.
However, Brickstone went to court and filed an urgent chamber application seeking a relief order to stop the demolitions.
It also sought for an interdiction to stop council from evicting them from the said land.
Bold and Brash
However, even after being dragged to court the two still submitted their forged documents as proof of ownership.
The duo misrepresented that they were legal owners of the said land by tendering the fake allocation letter dated April 21 202.
It was ascribed to the the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
Stumped by this document Harare City Council contacted the Local Government Ministry.
Verifications at the Ministry’s Department for Spatial Planning established that the allocation letter presented before the courts was not authentic.
That was the final nail that paved way for proceedings that have resulted in the recent demolitions.
The buyers have reportedly lost over US$1,5 million in property value due to the demolitions.
Chitanga and Mabeka have since been arrested.
More Demolitions Coming
Meanwhile, Council has revealed that it is repossessing the entire land for onward allocation to those on the Housing Waiting List.
Harare Council Director of Planning Samuel Nyabeze says the demolition program will continue.
He says they will intensify demolitions and warned land barons that they will be arrested.
“We have to restore order in the city and we will not tolerate a situation where people just build houses without approvals and permission from council.
“A settlement has to be planned with all amenities in place before people start building.
“You cannot build a house without council-approved plans; you cannot build where there are no sewer and water facilities.
Nyabeze urged residents to check with Council before buying land.
“Even when building a structure, every stage should have council approvals,” he said.
