Harare City Council To Launch 'Murambatsvina' In Crowborough

Harare City Council is set to demolish houses built illegally on wetlands in Crowborough in a move reminiscent of the infamous 2005 Operation Murambatsvina.

While addressing a Wetlands Indaba at Town House on Thursday, Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba revealed that the destruction of houses constructed on undesignated sites was imminent. He said:

Right now, we must be able to find money to pay the Messenger of Court so that our demolition team can start demolition of houses.

We are starting our operation next week in Crowborough. Those people who are illegally occupying wetlands will be forced to vacate. People should not settle on wetlands as it affects our environment.

A team has been set up to demolish illegal structures, and people occupying the land should vacate. We have to protect human rights to shelter, but we also need to protect the environment.

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The revelation comes when the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Harare municipal police officers are destroying roadside business structures built along Tynwald Road in Westlea and Solomon Mujuru Drive (formerly Kirkman Drive).

Operation Murambatsvina (Variously ‘Move the Rubbish’, ‘Restore Order’, ‘Operation Clean-up’, ‘getting rid of the filth’), was a large-scale, slum clearance operation in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Kariba and Victoria Falls launched on 18 May 2005.

More: The Herald