By Lloyd Takawira
Combined Harare Residents Trust (CHRA) have condemned the ongoing demolitions, ‘Murambatsvina Part 2’ of illegal structures in Harare and Chitungwiza as ‘deeply concerning’.
This comes after Harare City Council and Chitungwiza Municipality’s this week began their infamous demolitions of illegal structures in the capital. Car sales, tuck-shops and vending sites along road servitude have been destroyed.
Angry residents have described the move as ill conceived and an abrogation of the right to fair living.
In a statement, Combined Harare Residents Trust said the destruction of the structures threatened the livelihoods of citizens in the informal sector.
“The demolition of vending sites and tuck-shops is a war against residents livelihoods.
“CHRA appreciates the intention to bring order and sanity in the City of Harare but condemns the process and strategies being employed by the government.
“Constitutional principles must be held in both practice and decision-making. The unilateral decisions being made by governments on behalf of the local authorities is a cause for concern, especially considering that we have a constitution that clearly provides for the power of local authorities to make decisions on their own initiative.”
In a separate statement, MDC Alliance councillors said that the demolitions were a reincarnation of the infamous Murambatsvina of 2005 which left thousands homeless .
“We the councillors under the MDC-ALLIANCE , condemn in the strongest term the ongoing distraction of property. Zimbabweans are living through buying and selling in the informal economy due to poor management of the economy which has caused untold suffering to the urban population, the destructions have to stop”
