Glen View Area 8 ZANU PF political commissar Clever Makotore has claimed that the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) was behind the fire which gutted the Glen View Area 8 Home Industries complex in Harare on Sunday.
The fire destroyed property worth thousands of United States dollars. Makotore said:
There have been strong suspicions politics could be at play because every time there is a fire we see council coming in trying to evict people and take over. This complex was given to the people by ZANU PF and we know that the CCC doesn’t want our party in here and they will use these excuses to push us out.
Complex chairperson Claudius Mtongwizo also blamed the opposition for the chaos at the complex. Mtongwizo said:
As you know the council is run by the opposition but this complex by Zanu PF, so the opposition wants excuses to take over this complex. If they want to fix anything they can do it while we are there, they do it in phases otherwise we are not going anywhere. This complex belongs to us and the party (ZANU PF).
But CCC local councillor Denford Ngadziore denied claims that the opposition was behind the arson. He said:
These are the space barons who are resisting council to put in fire hydrants and other necessary essentials for their benefit and safe operating environment. Despite their protests, there is no going back on the council’s plans to ensure there is sanity.
Council spokesperson Innocent Ruwende also said there was no politics at play urging property owners to vacate so that the local government authority can do proper planning for the place.
Ruwende also said that there is a need for road access and hydrants adding that the fire brigade can’t even access the area as it stands.