Zimbabwe says no law allows house demolitions as Chenesa clean-up hits 16,500 structures
Written on
Local government minister Daniel Garwe says Operation Chenesa is meant to protect citizens from demolitions, with 16,529 illegal structures removed so far and vending sites now planned in all 2,500 wards.
Zimbabwe's Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has insisted that the government is not targeting people's homes under Operation Chenesa, saying no law provides for the demolition of houses and that the clean-up is intended to protect citizens from demolitions.
"There is no government law that says houses should be demolished. We are actually protecting citizens from demolitions," Garwe said during a press conference in Harare, adding that the modernisation of cities was an "absolute, irreversible" ministry mandate tied to the country's ambition of upper middle-income status by 2030.
The programme is being implemented across all 92 local authorities, with enforcement focusing on illegal businesses, unauthorised structures and activities that violate municipal regulations, as well as public health and urban planning requirements.
Figures released by the minister show that 35,365 illegal businesses and activities have been affected since the operation began, with 16,529 illegal structures dismantled and removed from unauthorised locations. A total of 1,446 arrests have been made and US$118,553 plus R1,000 in fines collected from non-compliant operators.
Garwe said the next phase would prioritise the provision of vending sites across all 2,500 wards, with local authorities directed to establish designated vending zones equipped with adequate water supplies and sanitary facilities, and markets that have fallen into disrepair renovated urgently.