Manyame RDC cracks down on illegal land occupation...

Manyame RDC cracks down on illegal land occupations

Audrey Galawu

Manyame Rural District has issued a warning to all residents of illegally occupying, subdividing and building houses without council approval.

The RDC threatened to demolish all illegal structures in the six peri-urban farms of Manyame namely Braemer, Cawdor, Dunnotar, Edinburg, Longlands, Tantallon, Murisa Rural Service Centre and Seke Communal, especially in Chinamano, Musoko, Savanhu, Kuora, Murisa, Masona and Nechiwa Villages and in wards 1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17, 18 and 19.

In a statement, the Council implored against entertaining any persons or people who may come forward purportedly representing Council, the State or other organisational institutions.

“Members of the public are hereby strongly warned against illegally occupying land in the six peri-urban farms and Seke Communal under a false hope that their structures will be regularised.

“Members of the public are therefore warned against buying stands from unscrupulous elements. Besides losing his or her hard-earned money, anyone caught engaging in such illicit transactions shall be prosecuted and all illegal structures shall be demolished.

“Please be advised that the development of land can only take place where there is an approved layout plan, a development permit or valid lease agreement. Further to that individuals should have duly approved building plans and all construction stages must be approved by council.

“To serve upon all the illegal occupants and persons carrying out illegal development in the aforementioned areas an order in pursuance of Section 33 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act 1996.

“Therefore, take note in terms of Section 32 of the Act you are hereby ordered to stop all construction works, demolish all structures on the ground and restore the land its original state. To cease any other unauthorised use of the land, remove all materials on site and vacate the land within 7 days from the date of this order.

“To stop any further illegal subdivision and or occupation of the land. This order will come into operation on November 29, unless in terms of the Act, an appeal is lodged within one month from the service of the order, whereupon the operations of this order shall be suspended," reads the statement.

A 70-year-old woman who spoke to Zim Now, Gaudencia Maputi said she had part of her house demolished last week.

The house which is located in Edinburg is at the roofing level.

Gogo Maputi said she had sent builders to roof her house when she received the devastating news.

She claims that a man called Chinyaka is reportedly the one behind the skirmishes as they want to take the land.

“The person who allocated the stand for us is the one who is claiming that the stand is his. He ow now wants to remove the people he had allocated.

“I told him that I’m not going anywhere, we were given these lands in 2000, but this man is still harassing us.

“I once bought 4 500 bricks and they were stolen, then I built a house which was demolished. I again looked for a builder and when the house was at the roofing level, it was again demolished. Now I have once again worked to have my house built again. Right now, I am alone in the house and it has no roof. What am I supposed to do,” she said.