Staff Reporter
Harare City Council Audit Committee Chairperson and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Councillor, Blessing Duma has raised serious allegations of political bias in the regularization of illegal settlements in the city.
Duma claims that only cooperatives associated with members of the ruling party, Zanu PF, were targeted for demolition and denied regularization, while those with links to the opposition CCC were spared and granted approval.
During his appearance before the Commission of Inquiry into Harare City Council operations yesterday, Councillor Duma pointed to specific instances where this alleged bias was evident. He cited the Paddocks area in Crowborough as a prime example.
"In Crowborough, a section occupied by War Veterans aligned to Zanu PF was not granted regularization, whereas an adjacent area illegally occupied by CCC members was regularized. These actions reflect a deliberate attempt to favour certain political groups over others in the management of land allocations," said Duma.
Further evidence presented to the Commission included a voice recording in which Duma reportedly addressed other opposition councilors.
In the recording, he stated that he had been instructed by CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa to fast-track the regularization of certain illegal settlements in areas like Crowborough and Budiriro.
The move, according to Duma, was designed to counter the Government’s title deeds program and to lobby for support ahead of the 2023 elections.
“We were told by Mr. Nelson Chamisa to accelerate these regularizations to gain political advantage,” Duma admitted during the inquiry.
This revelation suggests that the process of regularization, which should be governed by clear and impartial urban planning laws, has been influenced by political maneuvering.
As Chairperson of the Environmental Management Committee in 2022, Duma, alongside other councilors such as Denford Ngadziore and Kudzi Kadzombe, allegedly collaborated to regularize illegal settlements in violation of standard procedures. The Commission heard that the regularization was unprocedural, raising questions about governance and accountability within the Harare City Council.
The allegations have sparked a heated debate over the fairness and integrity of city planning and governance. Citizens, have condemned the actions of the opposition councilors, calling for accountability and transparency in the handling of urban land. They argue that such politically motivated decisions undermine the rule of law and proper city management.
President Mnangagwa in May appointed the commission, chaired by retired judge Justice Maphios Cheda, to investigate the financial affairs and operations of HCCC dating back to 2017.
