Over the past few months, the youths have been invading buildings in the city owned mostly by the Asian and European community. The youths, who are being led by the Zanu (PF) provincial leadership, claim that they have identified about 70 unoccupied buildings in the city, which they said would be opened up to residents who need them.
Some of the buildings in the city which have been invaded and occupied by the invaders are Pizzaghetti on the corner of Eleventh Avenue and George Silundika; Kaymaks building on Leopold Takawira and Eighth Avenue and Centrust Building on the corner of Third Avenue and Fort Street.
The other properties which have been forcibly taken by the youths include Lucas building, Maggos building, Elons and Centenary building.
“I was in South Africa when my caretaker informed me that my property had been invaded by Zanu (PF) youths. After that I was forced to abandon my business in South Africa and flew back to sort out the issue. The youths refused to vacate my property and as I speak to you, they are camping on my premises,” said David Naido, the owner of Maggos building.
Naido said he has tried to engage the party’s leadership over the issue but nothing has materialised. The building occupations, which seem to be well coordinated, have attracted the wrath of both politicians and business people in the city.
“The MDC party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is really concerned by the continuing invasions of private properties in the city. This lawlessness certainly has to come to an end before the situation deteriorates like what happened to the chaotic land reform programme,” said Tabitha Khumalo, the party’s deputy national spokesperson.
Khumalo said the illegal building occupations were counterproductive and would worsen the city’s de-industrialisation problems.
Zapu last week also issued a statement condemning the invasions. The party’s Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Ray Ncube, said his party would defend the illegal takeover of properties belonging to foreigners.
Bulawayo deputy mayor Amen Mpofu said:
“These invasions are making it really difficult for council to attract investors. The council, in partnership with various stakeholders in the city, is working day and night trying to address the issue of company relocation in the city, but it seems other people have got their own agendas.”
In June this year, Zanu (PF) Bulawayo provincial chairman, Isaac Dakamela, castigated the youths for illegally occupying the buildings. Dakamela said there was no programme that sanctioned the occupation of buildings in the city and urged the youths to follow laid down policies on the indigenisation drive instead of engaging in rowdy behaviour.
Post published in: News