Harare Metropolitan Minister Oliver Chidawu has denied the ruling Zanu PF any links with the chaos prevailing in the capital city.
Addressing the media in Harare yesterday, the minister said the illegal structures targeted for demolitions, mainly market stalls, were constructed by “rogue” elements who were extorting money from the public.
Last week, the Harare City Council razed to the ground illegal structures in Mbare.
Chidawu blamed the construction of the illegal structures on “rogue” perpetrators who were tarnishing Zanu PF’s name yet the ruling party had no links to the space or land barons in Harare.
“We have rogues who are besmirching the names of the political parties by falsely claiming to have endorsed political parties to collect money from informal traders, public toilets, and bus ranks,” he said.
“There rogues claiming to have the endorsement of the ruling party to collect money yet this is false and the party does not have any link, whatsoever, to these individuals.
“Let me make it clear that Zanu PF does not tolerate indiscipline of the sort that is being perpetrated by these space barons and has never received any money from these individuals.
“We do not tolerate space barons or land barons, more so, those who have encouraged the construction of illegal structures in Mbare and were extorting money from the people operating in these structures,” the minister said.
He added: “We are not against any enterprises, but we want order to prevail in the city. We will deal with these rogue elements, especially at Glen View Area 8 market. We are moving to restore order at this complex.”
Madawu also ordered the city council to temporarily allocate market stalls to vendors whose stables were destroyed last week. The new stalls will be located at the Shawasha Grounds in Mbare adding that the government was looking for an investor to construct standard market stalls.
