In an indirect admission that the Zanu (PF) youths, operating under the banner of Chipangano, had taken advantage of open spaces in Harare to set up car sales in violation of council by-laws, Kunaka said, “We will approach the Local Government Minister and find out if these young people who had benefited from car sales can apply and be allocated space somewhere else.” The youths had taken advantage of their political affiliation to President Robert Mugabe’s party to grab open pieces of land and set up business with the justification that it was in line with the controversial empowerment programme initiated by their party.
A team appointed Chombo in September to probe the awarding of tenders, allocation of space for car sales and outdoor advertising in the city revealed that of the 200 car sales operating only 47 had lease agreements, and of those only three met the town planning requirements. On Friday, Chombo directed that all car sales operating illegally be demolished by December 31.
“This process should involve the police and should be preceded by vigorous publicity and advertising,” said Chombo, adding that some people were living in the illegal premises, most of which lacked ablution facilities. In the past, Kunaka reportedly led Zanu (PF) youths to occupy open spaces of land where market stalls have been set up and distributed along partisan lines – with MDC members, who are in the majority in most urban areas, being refused stalls.