Chombo’s directive came as he was calling for the demolition of some 28,000 houses in Chitungwiza and Seke.
The 131 stands in an area known as Mushawevana “Home for Youths” in Waterfalls were earlier targeted for demolition at the behest of Shadreck Mashayamombe, Zanu (PF) MP for Harare South and Harare Provincial Commissar.
“Chombo had to intervene as Mashayamombe and his allies wanted the houses demolished because the youths were accused of supporting the Mnangagwa faction,” said one of the youths, whose identity is being protected for security reasons.
The youth said Chombo instructed Mashayamombe, believed to support the Mujuru faction, to help fast track the regularisation of the stands and ensure that Zanu (PF) strongholds were not disturbed.
Mashayamombe denied ever attempting to demolish the structures, but confirmed that cooperative houses in the Waterfalls area A and B were regularised.
“In Waterfalls all houses belonging to cooperatives are legal and very soon they will be connected with electricity,” he said, denying receiving instructions from Chombo to spare the houses from demolitions.
In what observers described as demolitions double standards, Chombo set up an audit team to recommend action against families ‘illegally’ settled in Chitungwiza and Seke but has not acted against similar structures built in areas controlled by Zanu (PF), where party youths and hit squads are accommodated.
Chombo could not be reached for comment as his phone was never answered.
Simbarashe Moyo, chairperson of the Combined Harare Residents Association, observed that thousands of houses at Hopley and Harare South in general were illegal but Chombo was not raising a finger.
“The demolitions are political and Chitungwiza residents are being punished for voting MDC. If Zanu (PF) had won Chitungwiza, Chombo would not have launched an audit of houses and eventual demolitions,” he added.
Post published in: News