Harare City Council is today demolishing structures illegally erected in Highfield, including the famous Machipisa area, in their ongoing exercise which they say is meant to restore sanity to the city.
The illegal structures being destroyed are those housing barber shops, tuck shops, tyre mending and backyard food outlets.
Yesterday, the council cleared road servitudes at Gazaland area, with vehicle wreckages having been destroyed, while illegal structures were also demolished.
However, despite a statement by Zanu PF to stop the current demolitions by Local authorities in Harare, Chitungwiza and Goromonzi, the process is still going on and it is currently in Highfields which is in contrary to what the ruling party promised.
Addressing the media after meeting government ministers, Zanu PF Secretary for Administration, Dr Obert Mpofu said the party and its leadership are against the ongoing demolitions of houses which have left people exposed to weather vagaries.
“The party and its President and First Secretary Cde Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as the entirety of leadership, uphold the right to shelter and human dignity,” he said.
ZANU PF also put a stop to the ongoing house demolitions around the country after engaging the relevant government ministries saying the ruling party values the right to shelter.
“There have been ongoing demolitions in Mashonaland East province, Harare and Chitungwiza, leading to unwarranted loss of shelter and sources of income for our people. The party’s first secretary and President Emmerson Mnangagwa and all party officials uphold the right to shelter and human dignity. We, therefore, order that the current demolitions should stop forthwith.” added Obert Mpofu.
Mpofu sentiments came after the ruling party Zanu Pf had supported the house demolitions that is currently happening in Harare insisting that all illegal structures under co-operatives which include tuck-shops should be removed which saw Mbare being one of the victims of the current exercise despite Zanu Pf dramatic u-turn.