HARARE
–
Zimbabwean
authorities
ordered
the
opposition-controlled
Harare
City
Council
to
stop
destroying
homes
in
the
city’s
Belvedere
suburb
to
avoid
negative
attention
when
spotlight
falls
on
the
country
during
the
SADC
extraordinary
summit
this
week.
Local
Government
and
Public
Works
Daniel
Garwe
minister
inadvertently
exposed
the
real
reason
behind
the
order
during
his
ministry’s
strategic
workshop
for
2025
in
Bulawayo
on
Thursday.
He
accused
the
opposition
CCC-led
local
authority
of
timing
the
demolitions
for
the
SADC
summit
to
be
attended
by
reginal
leaders.
“We
are
all
aware
of
what
has
been
happening
in
Harare
and
Karoi
were
the
two
councils
went
on
a
demolition
drive
knowing
fully
well
that
starting
this
weekend,
we
have
visitors.
“There
are
about
seven
heads
of
states
coming
to
Victoria
Falls
for
the
World
Children’s
Day
commemorations,
followed
by
the
SADC
Troika
and
they
decided
to
demolish
people’s
homes.
“They
waited
for
six
months
for
people
to
build
those
houses
for
them
to
realise
that
the
houses
were
illegally
built.
So,
we
put
a
stop
to
that,”
he
told
officials.
As
current
chairperson
of
the
regional
bloc,
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
called
for
the
summit
to
tackle
the
regional
crises
in
Mozambique
after
violence
flared
up
following
disputed
polls
recently.
In
his
comments,
Garwe,
a
Zanu
PF
top
official,
said
councils
must
follow
the
law
before
carrying
demolitions
on
people’s
homes.
“We
are
not
promoting
illegal
settlements
but
we
are
saying
there
are
certain
process
and
procedures
that
must
be
followed
by
authorities
before
demolishing
people’s
homes,”
said
the
minister.
“If
you
are
to
give
notice
period
give
them
adequate
notice
period
you,
cannot
give
a
person
to
say
in
five
days,
I
will
come
and
demolish.
“It
is
inhumane,
it
is
not
acceptable
and
as
central
government,
we
have
said
no
to
demolitions.”
Garwe
said
he
was
not
however
encouraging
home
seekers
to
illegally
settle
themselves
in
open
spaces.
“The
law
will
eventually
visit
you.
Let
us
not
take
the
law
and
put
it
in
our
pockets.
“Let
us
respect
the
laws
and
let
us
enforce
the
laws
as
Ministry
responsibly
for
urban
state
land.
“Let
us
talk
to
our
local
authorities
and
encourage
them
to
do
that
which
is
right,
something
which
we
will
be
proud
of
when
you
leave
the
ministry,”
he
said.