The recent demolitions in St Martins, have been described as evidence of “the magnitude of land corruption and uncertainty in policy formulation” at the City of Harare.
Residents have castigated the demolitions saying they expose failures in how council handles land allocation disputes.
Harare Residents Trust (HRT) has since urged authorities to adopt a more humane approach to people living in illegal settlements.
“The St Martin’s housing demolitions reveal the magnitude of land corruption and uncertainty in policy formulation and implementation in the City of Harare.
The group singled out current and former council officials who were involved in earlier deliberations on the project.
It noted that Mayor Jacob Mafume and other current and former councillors “sat in the meetings of the Education, Health, Housing and Community Services Committee when the St Martin’s housing project was discussed.
Despite this fact officials have refused to recognise the settlement.
The statement described demolitions as “a crude way of settling land allocation conflicts” and argued that destroying homes inflicts more harm than it resolves.
“Housing demolitions are a crude way of settling land allocation conflicts.
Humane Approach
A more humane approach is needed to handle illegally settled people,” it said.
“Destroying people’s livelihoods in the name of asserting the council’s or government’s land rights is a lack of wisdom and foresight in dealing with sensitive issues.
The group alsoquestioned the decision-making process behind the operation.
“Unfortunately, someone sits daily in their high offices, deciding how to hurt the people.”
Call for alternative solutions
It warned that the demolitions could have political consequences.
“This will definitely backfire,” the statement said.
“There has to be a better solution than demolitions!”
“The people shall govern with more dignity and respect for their fellow humans.”
St Martin’s, on the eastern edge of Harare, has seen repeated tensions over land allocations, with residents often caught between competing claims by council, government and private developers.
Land administration in Zimbabwe’s urban areas has been a source of controversy for years, with commissions of inquiry previously citing irregularities in stands allocation and housing projects.
The City of Harare has previously defended demolitions as necessary to enforce planning regulations and protect public land, but rights groups argue such actions violate due process and leave thousands homeless.
