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Herald Reporter

Building has started on at least eight illegal stands in Chitungwiza on an open space designated for a community crèche without approval of the municipality.

As a result, the council has issued an order stopping the illegal construction of the houses, which it regards as a breach of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act.

In its interdict, the council has ordered the occupiers of the residential stands to immediately stop any developments, construction works, occupation or any use of the land.

In the event the eight were genuinely allocated the land, council wants them to furnish all the necessary papers to prove their cases.

“In the absence of the requisite documents the eight should demolish their structures, vacate and restore the crèche stand to its original state by August 20,” read the notice published yesterday.

The order shall come into force on August 20 unless, in terms of the Act, an appeal is lodged within a month from the service of the interdict, “whereupon this order shall be suspended until such a time as the appeal is finally determined or withdrawn”.

The council warned that failure to observe the order invited criminal charges which attracts a level 8 fine of $14 400 at the moment, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or both the  fine and imprisonment.