Goodness and Mercy Ministries founder and leader Prophet Tapiwa Freddy said that he was distressed following the demolition of his house in Glen View 1 suburb by the Harare City Council on Thursday, 28 September.
In a Facebook post, the self-styled prophet said his house was demolished even though he followed all the procedures that were outlined by the council.
Freddy said he was drawing faith from what he believes is God’s plan for him, his family and his church. He wrote:
<blockquote>
Today is a challenging day for me as my residential house has been demolished. It’s a distressing situation, especially considering that six years ago, the Harare City Council legally allocated me a residential stand in Glen View.
I followed all the necessary regulations and paperwork to build a small house that I could afford.
Unfortunately, this is not the only hardship I’ve faced. Our church was also demolished 2 years ago, marking the second time I’ve been directly affected by such an event.
In the face of these difficulties, I turn to prayer and encourage my fellow church members not to lose heart.
Despite the setbacks, I remain steadfast in my faith and trust that there is a reason why God allows such things to happen.
Today, even with my house demolished, I will continue to hold on to my unwavering belief in Him.
Furthermore, I am determined to persevere and move forward. That is why I invite everyone to join us tomorrow Friday, 29 September at our Night of Revival (pungwe!), which will take place at our new premises located at the corner of High Glen Road and Mushayabhande Road in Glen Norah B, Harare.
So, today may bring challenges, but it also presents an opportunity for renewal and strength. I am resolved to find solace and comfort in my faith, knowing that God has a plan for me, my home, and my church.
</blockquote>
Harare Deputy Mayor Cllr Kudzai Kadzombe later said the demolition was in response to a petition by residents who said the houses were allocated by the council without doing due diligence on a road in 2017.
Posting on X, Kadzombe also said the City of Harare will allocate new stands to the affected residents as well as construct houses for them, with council covering all expenses including sourcing building materials.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Prophet T Freddy Bemoans Demolition Of His House By City Of Harare

The City of Gweru has identified more than 60 buildings in the Central Business District (CBD) that need urgent renovations to meet the required standards.
Speaking during a City Council business engagement meeting held recently at the Mayor’s parlour, a Gweru City Council official Tapiwa Marerwa, warned that the local authority will not hesitate to demolish buildings with structural defects. Said Marerwa:
<blockquote>
We have been approached by various stakeholders with complaints that our buildings are in a bad state.
Most of them are generally not being maintained making them inhabitable and not fit to be used.
It is a requirement at law for us as a local authority to make sure that the owners of these buildings have addressed the anomalies.
We have summoned the respective owners of these buildings to take corrective measures but in the case of buildings with structural defects, these will be demolished, there is no going back on that.
</blockquote>
Some of the buildings in the city have collapsing roofs while others have cracks and the paint is peeling off. Added Marerwa:
<blockquote>
While some have cracks, others have paint peeling off and there are a number of buildings that have been abandoned.
Council was in the process of engaging owners of these buildings so that they can address the flagged areas.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://tellzim.com/more-than-60-defect-ridden-buildings-face-demolition-in-gweru/">TellZim News</a>

More Then 60 Buildings Face Demolition In Gweru CBD

Chitungwiza Town Council on Friday destroyed illegal structures in the Chidochevanhu Beerhall compound in Unit N, Seke.
Grocery tuck shops, hair salons, and hardware shops, among others, had been erected within the compound.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200003174/chitown-demolishes-illegal-structures">NewsDay</a>, George Madongwe, a former council employee who leases Chidochevanhu beerhall, said the demolitions were unjustified. He said:
<blockquote>
Council’s actions were not justified and are a gross violation of human rights. No reasons were given for demolitions as there was no official communication from the council. Valuables worth US$50 000 have been lost.
The council was collecting revenue from these structures as late as November 3, 2022, and there are receipts to support that.
Can the council collect revenue from an illegal structure? There were also engagements with the council regarding the structures.
</blockquote>
Chitungwiza Residents Trust director Alice Kuveya also criticised Chitungwiza Municipality for destroying the structures without notice.
However, acting town clerk Evangelista Machona insisted that the structures were illegal. She said:
<blockquote>
Those were illegal structures because council leases do not allow the adjustment of infrastructure without the council’s approval. But this is what was done.
</blockquote>
Madongwe claimed that the necessary procedures were followed before the structures were erected. He said:
<blockquote>
I constructed the structures after notifying the council. I wanted to raise money to pay their exorbitant bills that I couldn’t pay from selling beer alone.
At the same time, I wanted to increase their revenue base as they would collect licence revenues from the shops.
I have enough evidence to debunk the council narrative that I did anything illegal.
I have requests for bill adjustments, payment plans, payments made and proposals for change of use.
I am a former council employee with special circumstances compared to ordinary leaseholders.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts (ZNOART) Chitungwiza chairperson Obert Matsika said the local authority should have acted in 2019 when the structures were built.
The municipality also demolished other illegal structures at Chigovanyika Shopping Centre in St Mary’s.

Chitungwiza Municipality Demolishes Illegal Structures

<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kwekwe">Kwekwe</a> City Council has suspended the demolition of illegal tuck shops pending consultations with stakeholders.
The local authority had given an ultimatum to the illegal tuck shop and gas vendors to regularise their operations or risk their structures being demolished without further notice.
In a public notice, the acting director of health services, Mrs Patricia Shumba had given the operators until Wednesday to regularise their operations before demolitions could be effected.
However, Mayor Councillor Future Titora said last Friday the demolitions have been shelved as further consultations are being made, The Herald reports. Said Titora:
<blockquote>
When the decision to demolish the illegal structures was made, I was not there, I had gone out of town on council business. But upon my return I learnt of the development and we then decided to shelve the decision till further notice.
</blockquote>
She said consultations will be made with fellow councillors, tuck shop owners as well as key stakeholders.
Titora urged tuck shop operators to take the time to approach the city’s health department to regularise their operations.
The decision to demolish the tuckshops triggered public outcry with residents blaming the local government authority for being “inconsiderate given the prevailing hard economic conditions.”
Kwekwe Central legislator, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Judith_Tobaiwa">Judith Tobaiwa</a> took to social media soon after the notice to criticise the council for not engaging stakeholders.
“I have noted with concern a circular by Kwekwe City Council threatening to demolish what they term illegal tuck shops and gas cages. As a lawmaker and an exemplary law-abiding citizen, I would like to see sanity in our town, but the move by the management is wrong considering the situation in our country. 
Tobaiwa, a  member of the opposition <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Citizens%27_Coalition_for_Change">Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)</a> added that the situation would have been better resolved by engaging everyone and offering alternatives.
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Kwekwe Suspends Demolition of Illegal Tuckshops

Harare City Council has allayed the fears of homeowners whose properties were built on residential land albeit without the authorities’ approval.
The council revealed that it will not demolish the structures but ensure that they are formalised.
This was revealed by Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango in an interview with The Herald. He said:
<blockquote>We are talking about houses that have been built with plans that have not been approved by the City of Harare.
Those plans must be submitted to the city and inspections will be done on those properties.
This will benefit the people because once they formalise their stands, the council will give them certificates of ownership that will allow them to acquire title deeds for their properties.
Regularising properties gives security of tenure to homeowners. It also gives confidence to investors. We are not just regularising settlements.
We are also massively licensing businesses and the informal sector. The idea is to give legitimacy to all those who want to operate legally in the city.</blockquote>
Eng. Chisango said that the move is set to benefit the property owners as the council will give them certificates that will enable them to acquire title deeds.
The city has put in measure to prevent fresh invasions.
Eng. Chisango also explained how the regularisation process is done:
<blockquote>You need to be allocated to a surveyed stand, the information is available from the surveyor’s office. You need proof of ownership of the land.
You need that stand to be on an allocated piece of land which is approved in an approved town planning layout.
Once the approved plan is available you are then free to apply for a title for the development of that piece of land.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/council-clears-air-on-demolitions/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Herald</a></h4>

Harare City Council Will Not Demolish 'Illegal' Houses

Thousands were left homeless in Eyestone after Harare City Council demolished their houses. This is the second time some Eyestone residents have lost their homes having lost them during Operation Murambatsvina in 2005.
Some of the people managed to take their belongings out of their homes under the close supervision of law enforcement agents. Others were defiant and said that the demolitions are aimed at disturbing people from registering to vote.
Eyestone residents representative, Mr Tonderai Nkomo said that he was shocked to see council officials demolishing their houses without any documentation to support the move since the matter is before the courts. When contacted for comment by ZBC News, City of Harare spokesperson Michael Chideme that the demolition was done above board and insisted that people should not construct houses as they please.
More: <a href="http://www.zbc.co.zw/2017/10/10/harare-demolishes-houses-in-eyestone/">ZBC</a>

Thousands left homeless after Council demolishes houses in Eyestone

Independent legislator for Norton, Temba Mliswa has filed an application at the Harare High Court seeking to stop the demolition of houses at Kingsdale Farm in Norton. Mliswa says that he wants to protect the residents from local property developer Maparahwe Properties (Pvt) Ltd.  Part of his application reads:
<blockquote>This is an urgent chamber application for an interdict staying evictions, eviction court proceedings instituted and the unlawful demolitions of properties belonging to Kingsdale Farm residents by the first respondent (Maparahwe Properties) pending the outcome of the application for compelling order and declaratuer which is pending in the Administrative Court,
The 1st respondent is evicting and has unlawfully evicted legitimate residents in an act that grossly violates the order of the Constitutional Court (ConCourt). Several occupants have been served with summons and notices to plead by 1st respondent whose intention is to evict all residents who were awarded 140 hectares of the land in question in the ConCourt under CCZ43/15.</blockquote>
No date has been set for the hearing yet.
More:<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/05/23/mliswa-seeks-order-stop-property-demolition/"> NewsDay</a>

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