By Staff reporter
The ruling party Zanu-PF has warned land barons across the country who are illegally selling stands on wetlands, saying the culprits must be promptly brought to book.
In a Press Statement yesterday, Zanu-PF National Spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo applauded efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to deal with the menace caused by the land barons in urban settlements.
“The revolutionary party Zanu-PF fully supports Government efforts and firm action as pronounced by His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the issue of land barons and illegal settlements in urban councils notably Harare, Chitungwiza, Gweru, Mutare and other towns.
“The issue of land barons who have become a law unto themselves must be brought to an end. The culprits must indeed be promptly brought to book,” said Ambassador Moyo.
He said that the sprouting of illegal settlements in wetland areas, river banks and other prohibited areas is both criminal and inhuman. “Wetlands and river banks must be protected at all costs. Indeed, the destruction of wetlands worsens the impact of floods as is currently being experienced in many parts of the country.
“We are glad that recent arrests have set the tone in efforts to bring normalcy into this critical real estate sector which is a key cog to achieving the national target of an Upper Middle Class Income Economy as espoused in Vision 2030,” said Ambassador Moyo.
He went on to say that the Party applauds the President for constituting an all stakeholders team led by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to address the menace. He urged all Party structures to co-operate with the Vice President’s team to achieve desired results.
Several MDC-Alliance officials including Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume have been arrested over illegal land deals.
Recently a Chitungwiza based land baron Fredrick Mabamba was arrested over allegations of illegally parcelling more than 2000 residential stands in Chitungwiza during the time he was deputy mayor of the town.
The Government should seriously deal with wetlands settlements as their destruction will not only affect human beings, but also brings suffering to species like birds, fish and insects that depend on these wetlands for survival. The fact is that tampering with wetlands will also create problems associated with climate change. Cities are fast becoming arid regions and if the Government fails to address the issue, wetlands will soon face extinction.
