By Ndatenda Njanike
ENVIRONMENTAL rights lobby groups have demanded that the Harare City Council find alternative land for families affected by demolitions.
The groups argue that this is provided for in the country’s constitution.
The call comes after the Harare City Council demolished houses in various suburbs in 2023.
In a Joint statement by Network For Environmental Justice ( NECJ), Cleveland Action Alliance and Residents Against Land Degradation said Harare must compensate the affected families, as well as investigate the land barons involved.
“Whilst the legal procedures have to be observed in acquiring residential stands, we are concerned that the Harare City Council has been paying a blind eye when houses are being built illegally and that there has not been thorough investigations by the City fathers to identify the actual suspects within council who we believe are conniving with the land barons by selling land to unsuspecting buyers.
“Institute a forensic investigation at Harare City Council in order to identify the culprits and bring them to book.
“It is in this regard that we urgently demand that the City Council finds alternative land for the families affected by demolitions as provided by the constitution of Zimbabwe.”
The lobby groups insisted that they would continue to mobilize residents to resist environmental degradation through illegal allocation of land.
“In line with our vision to increase community stewardship over the environment, we shall continue to mobilise residents to resist environmental degradation through illegal land allocations and public interest litigation remains key in this regard.” read the statement.