Suburban
SUNRIDGE residents have been left to gaze at their losses of the recent demolitions of security walls under the watch of Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore and council officials.
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
The demolitions were effected under the guise of preventing land barons from settling on greenways in the ward, but some residents’ security walls were affected in the confusion that ensued towards the festive period in December.
But residents of Sunridge have expressed concern over the demolitions that took place in mid-December last year at the instigation of Councillor Ngadziore and the City of Harare.
The residents said they voted Clr Ngadziore into office to help them in the ward but he had led the demolition of their security walls.
“We voted for you to help us in our constituency.
“You demolished the security walls which were put-up to prevent the land barons,” posted a Sunridge resident on the residents’ social media group.
A survey carried out by Suburban showed that security walls were demolished on three greenways along Hallingbury Road in Greencroft.
Residents who spoke to Suburban said the security walls were built to prevent land barons from grabbing the greenways.
They said Clr Ngadziore just demolished the security walls without explaining to them the reason for the demolitions.
According to the residents, the demolitions were selectively done as some security walls in certain areas were razed down while others were spared.
Ward 16 shadow Councillor Joshua Zinzombe confirmed that there were security walls built to prevent land barons from invading the greenways.
“During my campaign (in the council by-elections in March last year), I am the one who suggested and led residents to construct security walls to prevent land barons from invading the greenways.
“However, this guy brought in council to demolish those security walls. We built those in January and February last year after consultations with residents, the Minister’s office and other stakeholders. The goal was to lock out land barons,” said Cde Zinzombe.
Zimbabwe Combined Residents and Ratepayers Association (ZICORRA) coordinator for Harare Mr Lawrence Kuleya told Suburban that there are some stands on greenways belonging to residents that were caught up in crossfire during the demolitions.
“There are people that put security walls long ago. There are greenways in residents’ backyards. People were coming saying they came from (Ministry of Local Government and when they verify with the Ministry, they say they don’t know anything about it.
“So they decided to put security walls after seeing that the people making the claims were land barons,” he said.
Mr Kuleya said people contributed money to build the security walls hence their feelings that they were let down by their representatives and council.
Commenting on the residents’ social media platform, Clr Ngadziore admitted the error and apologised to residents.
“Demolition of security walls, I explained this before. No one told me about the security walls erected by residents to protect the land barons. Again, I apologise to the affected residents about this. Our focus was to demolish all security walls in invaded greenways,” said Clr Ngadziore.
At the height of the demolitions, the ruling ZANU PF accused the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change members of allegedly selling stands on greenways in Ward 16 to fund party activities for the 2023 harmonised elections.
ZANU PF District Coordinating Committee 4 Secretary for Administration Cde Spencer Mackenzie Mabeka said the leadership of the ruling party’s district youth executive in Mabelreign found out that Clr Ngadziore and his allies had put security walls around most of the greenways on Hallingbury Road in Sunridge.
Cde Mabeka said the opposition members were now using a place in Mabelreign as their office for CCC activities.
“And they are planning to grab one of these greenways which is about 3 000 or 4 000 square metres to build their permanent headquarters for CCC,” said Cde Mabeka.
He said ZANU PF youths got wind of the scheming and decided to counter the CCC moves.
Cde Mabeka said the greenways belonged to the State and council had no power over them.
However, Clr Ngadziore said even when the land belongs to the State, whoever wants to make use of the land must get services from the city council.
He said the Mabelreign community was against land invasions and he had to lead the demolitions.
