Local Government Deputy Minister Joel Biggie Matiza today said the government exercise to demolish illegal structures is not a heartless exercise. It is meant to bring back some order as it Hatcliffe, Harare, for example, people are building houses in a cemetery.He said the United Nations Development Programme is willing to assist in the sanitisation programme in which his ministry is demolishing illegal structures in Chitungwiza and Seke. The exercise coming soon after the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front victory in July is reminiscent of the 2005 demolition codenamed Murambatsvina which also followed another resounding victory by ZANU-PF. Matiza said the exercise is not “a heartless exercise in which people will have their houses demolished with properties inside but it is a well planned programme in which those affected will be given ample time to move to land allocated to them…….The situation across the city has been bad with people building houses in a cemetery in Hatcliffe as well other illegal structures in Mufakose and other areas. We urge those buying stands to first verify from local authorities before purchasing any land.”
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