Demolitions Are Political Says Mayor

The Mayor of Harare City, Bernard Manyenyeni, has said that the controversial housing demolitions taking place around the city, is a political move.

Manyenyeni responded to a petition handed in by the Combined Harare Residents Association to stop the demolishing of the houses after 13 houses – built and owned by the Tembwe Housing cooperative – were demolished by council officials last week.

The mayor, however, said he had nothing to do with the demolition and that the entire fiasco was ‘hijacked by politicians’.

“…[sic] As a country and as a city we have a divided house on the matter which also gets very political…Going forward, such exercises must now carry an authorisation order so that the performance can be attributed to a source of action and centre of authority” Manyenyeni said.

Manyenyeni also said that he was only made aware of the demolition after it had occurred.

When asked about the fact that some residents claimed they were assaulted by the council officials during the fiasco, he said that he is currently investigating the matter:

“…[sic] In the meantime I will ask that the Acting Town Clerk does an internal investigation around our truck a Hino Reg. No AAE8352 believed to be involved in the alleged violence by the municipal police.”