Staff Reporter
Harare residents have expressed fear that the increase in squatter camps in the City of Harare might create havens for criminal activities.
According to a source, this has coincided with widespread concern over diseases plaguing the country.
In interviews with concerned citizens, the blame has been squarely placed on the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led council, which has been accused of neglecting the issue until squatter camps proliferated.
Chipo Chinobvare, accused the CCC of deliberately fostering the growth of squatter camps. She asserted that the council's inaction was a strategic move, speculating that the CCC intended to exploit these vulnerable communities during violent protests against the Government, as part of their agenda for regime change.
"We are well aware that the CCC is planning violent anti-Government demonstrations, and the timing is no coincidence. It's clear they intend to use these squatter communities as a catalyst for their protests. The lack of eviction is a deliberate tactic to incorporate these people into their demonstrations," warned Chinobvare.
Kaniya Chete from Hatfield echoed similar sentiments, claiming that it was in the CCC's nature to allow squatter settlements to flourish, using vulnerable individuals as pawns to advance their regime change objectives.
"The previous demonstrations which led to property destruction started in Epworth. This is indicative of CCC's strategy to manipulate vulnerable members of the community," Chete stated.
This publication discovered a recent case where 90 households were evicted from land owned by UFI church leader, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa in Retreat, Waterfalls. Another group of 20 squatters are residing opposite number 7 grounds in Mbare, consisting of children and adults surviving through scavenging for recycled materials. They camped in Mbare on December 22.
Another group of 20 squatters are camped at Teviotdale in Borrowdale on land owned by Sally Fransesca Carney. This group previously lived at the Pomona refuse dumpsite before they were evivted by Geo-Pomona Waste Management Pvt Ltd Company.
This publication further unveiled about ten street kids including adults who are always seen loitering along Julius Nyerere road and also a family that consists of two adult females and five children. This family is always found seated closer to Town House along the same street.
Meanwhile, the Government has taken notice and through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works is actively working to determine the original homes of these squatters. The intervention aims to address the root causes of the issue and find sustainable solutions to alleviate the challenges faced by these vulnerable communities.
