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CHIPRA statement on demolition of 10 000 houses in Chitungwiza
Chitungwiza Progressive Residents Association (CHIPRA)
November 08, 2013

Chitungwiza Progressive Residents Association receive with shock the message from the Local Governance Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo on the government intention to demolish 10 000 stands in Chitungwiza. This message comes with shock because Dr Chombo was the minister of the same ministry for the past decade, he presided over Chitungwiza Municipality through a commission when he sacked the then elected Mayor Mr Mishech Shoko, when he suspended the former town clerk Mr Godfrey Tanyanyiwa and when he brought in a commission led by Mr Fungal Mbetsa. All and sundry are aware that during this period land was being parceled out to people through corrupt means.

We at CHIPRA do not condone corruption and its ill effects, but demolishing houses that were bought legally from the council and council accepted cooperatives is a violation of human rights. Section 74 of the new Zimbabwean Constitution states that, no person may be evicted from their home, or have their home demolished, without an order of court made after considering all the relevant circumstances. It is in this spirit that CHIPRA is saying the government should stop forthwith this envisaged action.

Chitungwiza municipality should bear the brunt for allocating stands on illegal spaces by providing new stands serviced and built reasonable houses as espoused by section 28 of the new Zimbabwean constitution which states that all government agencies should provide adequate shelters for the affected persons whilst pursuing legal measures against the unscrupulous cooperatives which robbed unsuspecting home seekers.

We urge the new councilors and the Mayor to clean the mess that was left by commissions and the former town clerk. We urge Mr George Makunde to bring sanity in the management of Chitungwiza affairs. We value your contributions in Kariba hence we do not expect that Chitungwiza Municipality to be an appendage of the ministry in the day-to-day operations of the council both in management and procurement.

Government should redirect their efforts towards community development, employment creation and empowerment. We do not empower through destruction of what we built over the years with sweat and tears.

At CHIPRA we remain resolute; we do not want a repeat of Operation Murambatsvina which made more than 700 000 people destitute as we say “together for better service delivery”.

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