CHITUNGWIZA - Fuming residents of Chitungwiza have petitioned the council protesting a decision to allocate residential stands at a site meant for the building of a clinic.(Pictured: Ignatius Chombo)
“We are appealing to the relevant authorities concerning the remaining open space in Unit O. This space, according to the master plan, is meant for a clinic, but it is now being allocated for residential stands,” read the petition signed by hundreds of residents. Already some houses are nearing completion at the open space. The new stand owners were told to speed up the building of their houses or they would lose their stands to residents on the waiting list.
A borehole that was drilled by UNICEF at the open space, for use by residents in the area, has now been monopolised by the person allocated the stand and his builders. Residents, who sometimes go for months without water, recently took the law into their hands and beat up the builders at the stand. The case is now being handled at Chitungwiza Police Station. In addition to the petition, residents drafted a letter to the Minister of Local Government, Ignatius Chombo, to quickly intervene and stop construction at the site.