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Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Fresh land invasions have rocked Chitungwiza Municipality, amid reports that some candidates contesting the July 30 harmonised elections are illegally parcelling out stands to residents without council’s authority. Sources said some aspiring legislators and sitting councillors were using land to attract votes.

“People behind this mess are some sitting councillors and aspiring ones. They are allocating their stands to their party’s followers claiming that they will have them regularised later,” said the source.

“Illegal settlements have sprung up because some councillors that were once suspended are now conniving with municipality officials to illegally parcel out land.”

Chitungwiza town clerk Dr George Makunde confirmed the development saying council was taking action against the perpetrators.

“There are people who have taken the law into their own hands during this election period by occupying council land without papers. However, as a municipality, we are taking action against those found on the wrong side of the law,” he said.
Dr Makunde said they had now applied for a court order to grant them permission to demolish the illegal structures.

“We have filed an application at High Court today (Friday) seeking authority to demolish such structures. We want order in this town,” said Dr Makunde.

“We messed up our town planning and His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said no to lawlessness in this new dispensation. Election is about choosing leaders and not engaging in unlawful acts hiding behind the banner of politics and elections.”

In April this year, the local authority was given an interdict by Chitungwiza Magistrates Court after it announced plans to demolish more than 100 houses built on undesignated sites.

It was ordered to first acquire a valid court order from the High Court to carry out such an act.
The houses were built on land reserved for churches, schools, cemeteries, drainage systems, electricity pylons and water pipes.

The structures were in Seke, Riverside, Nyatsime, Zengeza and St Mary’s.