By Correspondent
That demolitions are cruel and evil is obvious but so can be a Government announcement premised on no law to give people false hope.
After Harare’s promise to demolish 5000 illegal houses Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has come out with opposite utterances.
Speaking to state media Garwe said residents should be given 4 months notice.
The reason isn’t any regulation or statute but, “we are human beings”, he said.
“We are human beings, and every human being has got a right to shelter.
“There is a lot of excitement from the City of Harare in terms of wanting to demolish people’s homes.
Strange Summation
In a strange summation of what is taking place.
Garwe said there is excitability.
“They are playing to the gallery, condemning public officials and the Government.
“That we are just issuing statements because there was the Extraordinary SADC Summit recently.
To Minister Garwe and Government, Council is demolishing illegal houses as part of a wider political scheme rooted in the recent SADC Summit.
To them the Local Authority is trying to shame government!
It’s strange and shocking!
Yet that laws were trashed is clear even to them.
“Yes, we appreciate that those houses were illegally built.
“People who were not following laid down procedures, people built on land set aside for other activities.
“Social amenities, schools and railway line; we are aware of that as Government.
”It’s thus strange how in the face of such flagrant disregard of the law Government thinks the reaction of Council is political.
That it comes up with naked statements not clothed by any legal sheath to give people false hope is even more dangerous.
Arming Land Barons
Harare is teetering on the edge of lawlessness due to land barons and land invaders.
Already, the legal system has adequate timelines to protect the residents from any random demolitions.
Council is no longer allowed to presumptuously demolish those houses before going to Court.
It’s an effective method to protect the owners of illegal houses.
Thus there is no need for Garwe’s 4 months announcement other than to bring more confusion.
And to embolden some errant land barons AGAIN!
