(Last Updated on November 19, 2020 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – The City of Harare is at a critical point in time where it is grappling with a myriad of challenges such as poor service delivery, massive corruption and destruction of water infrastructure among other issues, Harare Province Development Coordinator, Tafadzwa Muguti has said.
He made the comments while addressing a full council meeting in Harare on Wednesday.
Mugari said it was deeply concerning how the residents were disregarding the by-laws where people are building various structures in different areas without the relevant documentation.
“Your coming together as both councillors and management comes at a very worrying time when the City of Harare is seized with massive corruption, poor service delivery, illegal land settlements, illegal vending and business activities, environmental crimes such as sand poaching, illegal commercial water distribution and destruction of our last remaining water bodies,” said Muguti during his address.
Muguti also warned Council officials to shun corruption saying a war has been declared on corruption hence it will not be tolerated.
He further questioned why people were allowed to build and finish structures without approval from relevant authorities while urging that council takes action including regularisation where it’s possible.
“All illegal settlements should be evicted and those who have an opportunity to be regularised, planning should commence immediately through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.”
However adding that those who fraudulently sell land should be prosecuted.
He also urged Council to work together with other government departments such as the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) and the Department of Immigration citing that there was a growing number of illegal immigrants operating businesses in the city because Council was issuing licenses without liaising with other departments.
Harare City Council has been under fire recently with various stakeholders taking them to court demanding urgent attention to improve service delivery.