Council Committees in Joint Tour of Illegal Settlements

The City of Harare's Education, Housing and Community Services and Licensing and Works and Town Planning Committees this morning embarked on a tour of the City's Ingwe Farm, where illegal settlements are sprouting up due to the criminal activities of land barons. The tour targeted the section of Ingwe Farm where a bulldozer hired by the daring land barons was seen clearing roads and while at the same time the land barons are pegging stands for sale to unsuspecting home seekers. Education, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee Chairperson, Cllr Blessing Muroyiwa, alongside Works and Town Planning Chairperson Cllr Prince Mutebuka led the tour which was also graced by Deputy Mayor Cllr Rosemary Muronda. Cllr Muroyiwa and Cllr Mutebuka took turns to rebuke the land barons who made feeble attempts to block the tour and issued stern warnings to potential victims of the illegal land sellers. Today's tour forms efforts by the City of Harare to take preemptive measures against the proliferation of dysfunctional settlements. The City has also taken into account the plight of desperate home seekers who might lose their life savings when Council demolishes houses constructed on land illegally parceled out by land barons. Other Councillors who took part in the tour include Richard Pamire (Education, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Vice Chairperson), Cecelia R. Chimbiri, Emmanuel Dzinomurumbi, Angeline Dube, Boniface K. Maburutse, Clemence Maimba, Choice Mpofu, Fadzai Mutasa, Womberaishe T. Nhende, Alexio Nyakudya, Joshua Pedzisai, Elvis Ruzani, Betty Suka, Jane Bhingari, Knowledge Bote, Takudzwa Dzumbunu, Zodiak Duri, Clemence Maimba, Lister A. Madede, Clayd Mashozhera, Denford Ngadziore, Alexio Nyakudya, and Teresa T. Tomasi. Head of Human Shelter Services, Mr Edgar Dzehonye, joined the tour and also spoke strongly against the land invaders at Ingwe Farm before outlining the correct procedure of application for land allocation from Council. The City of Harare's development control is now guided by its newly unveiled Master Plan for orderly and sustainable development for the benefit of residents and other stakeholders.