Mutimbanyoka says Chitungwiza demolitions were on ...

Mutimbanyoka says Chitungwiza demolitions were on misused Council land

Demolitions of illegal homes to begin in mid-September | eKathimerini.com

Zim Now Writer

The demolitions that took place in Chitungwiza last week were above board, the town’s Acting Mayor Kiven Mutimbanyoka has said. This comes after council on Friday demolished several at Chigovanyika Shopping Centre, Huruyadzo in St Mary’s, Makoni Shopping Centre and Unit N, Seke.

The Chitungwiza Municipality acting mayor said the demolitions were within their rights as the structures that were targeted were being run under council properties.

Mutimbanyoka said council had leased some of its properties to individuals who had the capacity to operate them, but most of the lessees were violating the lease agreements.

“As council, we currently do not have the capacity to operate some of our properties hence we leased them to individuals who had the capacity to do so. However, most of them were building subdivision shops inside our properties and renting them out to other people.

“Our lease agreements do not allow individuals to operate other businesses on council property as we are only leasing out. Those who think the demolitions were illegal are free to take the legal route and take us to court,” he said.

Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts (ZNOART) Chitungwiza chairperson Obert Matsika said council should have acted in 2019 when the structures were built.

“Council left all this happening instead of stopping the developments from the start since the structures have been there since 2019,” he said.

Meanwhile, the council has urged residents and commercial businesses to pay a fine pegged by the municipality in order to be regularised. The fine was introduced as a way of dealing with the sprouting illegal settlements in the town.

The council said it will not, however, formalise structures under ZESA pylons or over sewer pipelines.