In the latest phase of the Harare government’s assault on unauthorized homes and other structures, police ordered residents of so-called low-density Harare suburbs including Waterfalls, Houghton Park, Milton Park and Hatfield to tear down buildings that were not listed as approved in official city plans.
Sources told VOA that police were circulating with officials of the state-appointed city commission telling homeowners to keep gates open and have house plans at hand. Police ordered property owners to tear down cottages, garages, gazebos, chicken runs, grain grinding mills and groceries lacking municipal authorization.
Reporter Carole Gombakomba of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe interviewed Mike Davies, chairman of the Combined Harare Residents Association, which has been monitoring the official destruction of homes and businesses.
