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Shocking revelations emerge as Cleveland House goes ablaze
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
September 17, 2009

The Sixth floor of the City of Harare's Department of Engineering and Urban Planning offices, Cleveland House, went up in smoke on Wednesday, 15 September 2009 after an electric fault had occurred. The unfortunate incident opened a Pandora's Box as it emerged that this part of the building was actually not being used as offices but has been housing at least twenty families of the Council workers. CHRA is reliably informed that Cleveland House has been accommodating about twenty Council workers who were affected by Operation Murambatsvina in 2005 and that these people have been staying in Cleveland for the past four years.

Sources within Council revealed that the Town Clerk and other top city officials were aware of the situation at Cleveland House and they were determined to keep it a secret from the general public. An emergency meeting was conducted on the same day that the building went up in smoke and the Councilors who attended the meeting were actually disappointed that the Town Clerk and other city directors were aware of the current activities taking place at Cleveland House but they did not bother to ensure that the employees had a decent place to stay nor did they inform the councilors of the circumstances involving some of the offices being turned into homes. The truth only came out when one of the rooms caught fire due to an electric fault and two children (who were later rescued) were trapped inside.

Meanwhile the emergency meeting that was conducted on Tuesday afternoon resolved that the employees should leave Cleveland. However, the employees reportedly refused to leave the premises saying that they needed to be given alternative accommodation first. Sources within Council have revealed that there is a high possibility that the Council will evict all illegal tenants occupying Council flats and houses to make room for the Council employees at Cleveland. The areas that are likely to be affected include Mbare flats and Glen Norah.

The City of Harare's failure to deal with such pertinent issues, even in their backyard is disappointing to say the least. City by-laws clearly stipulate that offices should not be turned into residential places and it leaves a lot to be desired when the law makers themselves are breaking their own laws. CHRA entreats the city fathers to be professional in all their operations. CHRA remains committed to advocating for good, transparent and accountable local governance as well as lobbying for quality and affordable municipal services on a non-partisan basis.

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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