(Last Updated on December 16, 2020 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – Government on Tuesday said the ongoing demolition of illegal settlements will continue, however, also said Harare City Council should not execute the demolition orders during the rainy season.
This was announced by the Minister of Local Government, July Moyo while addressing the media yesterday.
“Court orders issued will be carried out. Government is against demolitions happening during the rainy season, but we are not going to stop demolitions.
“At the same time all those who have been given eviction orders should know that these eviction orders are legal instruments and therefore cannot be defied by individuals,” said Moyo.
There has been an intense blame game between Central Government and Harare City Council following public outcry over the recently demolished houses in Budiriro which left over 130 families homeless during the wet season.
“It is not Government which took any of these to courts. The judgment of the court was on January 29, 2020, against the affected families. This was under case number 4457/19.
“The affected families were warned and given time when they should have vacated, but because some of these families listen to land barons they had not heeded the call.
“Unless individuals have gone to court to rescind these court orders those court orders will be effected at the appropriate time,” he added.
Minister Moyo said government does not want to throw people in the rain while stressing that those who have had their homes demolished should not go back an build on the same space but rather should be relocated so that regularisation can be done.