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Munyaradzi Doma in Zvishavane
Runde Rural District Council will engage the services of the Zimbabwe Republic Police to deal with the rise in illegal settlements in the Kosvoro area. Illegal settlements have continued to sprout despite the implementation of measures to curtail them. According to minutes of a recent council meeting, the process of dealing with the Kosvoro illegal settlements had already commenced.

“However, it has been noted that illegal constructions were continuing despite the residents having been ordered to stop any construction work in the area, reads the minutes.

“There was need to take drastic measures to ensure the construction of the illegal settlements is halted by engaging the settlers, respective chiefs, DA’s office and the ZRP.” Runde RDC chairperson Councillor Norman Sibanda said in an earlier interview that residents were taking advantage of plans to set up organised settlements and moving on to the land without clearance.

“The moment some of our villagers are aware of new settlements that are to be set up, they take advantage of that to settle illegally,” he said. Clr Sibanda said council was working on restoring order in the affected areas. A survey carried out recently revealed that 78 houses had been constructed illegally in the area.

“Ten houses are still under construction, said Clr Sibanda. Of these, it was noted that six houses were within the road servitude of 70 metres. Sadly, it had been observed that the number of illegal structures had continued to rise, an indication that the residents had defied the directive to stop developing structures. It is now up to council to consider either to demolish or regularise the structures.” Councillors and officials agreed that: “the illegal structures, which were constructed before the survey was conducted and the directive issued be regularised.” It was also agreed that occupants of the affected stands be given the right of first refusal to buy regularised stands and that those in defiance would not be considered.