Rising land invasions in Bluff Hill

Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter

The rate of land invasions has reached worrying levels in Harare West Constituency with residents reporting a surge in the practice particularly in Bluff Hill, where illegal housing developments are proliferating on both council and private land.

Ward 41 Councillor Kudzai Kadzombe recently conducted an on-site inspection with the director of housing and uncovered 22 unauthorised houses built after home seekers were misled into buying stands from fraudulent sellers.

In a statement, Cllr Kadzombe confirmed the land invasions and warned residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities on open spaces.

“We have seen a concerning trend of land invasions that not only undermine the rule of law but also threaten the integrity of our community.

“I urge all residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities on open spaces to help us combat this issue,” she said.

In a related incident, an apostolic church has encroached on land designated for a council primary school in the Redroofs area of New Marlborough.

Cllr Kadzombe intervened and instructed the church to halt its development.

She also said developers were going ahead with their projects without necessary approvals from the authorities.

Officials from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate present during the site visit confirmed some developers had not received the necessary approvals from either the Ministry or the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).

“This raises serious concerns about compliance with environmental regulations and the potential impact on our community.

“We must ensure that all developments are properly vetted and approved to protect our environment and public spaces,” said Cllr Kadzombe.

In response to growing safety concerns, Cllr Kadzombe met engineers from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to discuss the urgent need for road rehabilitation in the Redroofs area.

Residents have reported numerous accidents due to reckless driving on newly constructed roads, prompting them to submit a petition demanding for the construction of speed humps, pedestrian crossings and rumble strips.

“The Ministry has committed to addressing the rehabilitation of Elizabeth Windsor Road before the rainy season.

“We are grateful for their cooperation and look forward to safer roads for our community,” said Cllr Kadzombe.