MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa has condemned the move by government to demolish all illegal structures in Harare insisting that the government must first address issues which will ensure that Zimbabwe acquire favorable electoral reforms.
The MDC Alliance President remarks came after the government last week destroyed illegal structures under heavy police presence.
During the weekend, police also blocked all roads leading to Mbare and the municipal police demolished structures in Mbare, including those in the Mupedzanhamo flea market area where hundreds of informal traders have been operating from.
Commenting on the current situation on his twitter handle Advocate Nelson Chamisa said the government didn’t have the power to demolish illegal structures.
He added that the demolitions are not welcome because they are conducted at a time when people don’t have anywhere to go whilst emphasizing that the move by government to remove illegal structures was brutal during this period where Zimbabwe is experiencing lower temperatures.
He however urged the government to address issues to do with electoral reforms first and avoid election rigging in the upcoming 2023 elections.
In a statement, the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) said they challenge the demolitions that happened in Mbare.
“We condemn the brutality we witnessed in Mbare. We continue to see violation of our right to survive and we will challenge this using all lawful means. A number of our members were affected and we witnessed looting of our merchandise and Muguti (Harare development co-ordinator Tafadzwa Muguti) should be held personally responsible for what is happening,” said VISET leader Samuel Wadzai.
Furthermore, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) also blamed government for failing to improve the economic situation, resulting in unemployed citizens eking out a living through vending.
“While city council claims the structures were illegal, the manner of the demolitions is inhumane as it amounts to inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment which is prohibited in section 53 of the Constitution. Zimbabwe has a legacy of destroying people’s livelihoods instead of improving the lives of its citizens. In 2005, government’s Operation Murambatsvina left over 700 000 Zimbabweans homeless and without any source of livelihoods and some are still destitute up to today.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa however remained silent about the ongoing Harare demolitions which have left a lot of vendors jobless.
