Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. President Emmerson Mnangagwa Thursday said measures will be taken in the future to make sure that residential structures are not erected in wetlands.
He made the remarks Thursday while heading the burial of two national heroes, Morton Malianga and Ellen Gwaradzimba at the National Heroes Acre, Harare. He said:
Our people are urged to exercise extreme caution when crossing flooded rivers, the CPU will continue to assist those affected by high rainfall.
The negative and costly impact of building on wetlands has been brought to the fore by the flooding of homes in some parts of our urban areas.
Such practices cannot be tolerated and must be decisively dealt with going forward.
His remarks follow the circulation of pictures and videos of water flooding Budiriro, a Harare suburb and Gweru houses built in wetlands damaging residents’ household properties.
A statement issued by Harare Provincial Development Coordinator Muguti after touring the flooded area in Budiriro Wednesday together with the Minister of Housing Daniel Garwe and the CPU said flood victims will be relocated to safer areas.
This happens after nearly 200 homes were demolished in Budiriro with the Harare City Council saying the structures had been built on illegally acquired land.
Meanwhile, there are 38 more court orders to demolish homes built on the undesignated spaces and wetlands.
For over a decade now, Harare has been under siege from corrupt land barons taking advantage of a shortage of residential space to dupe desperate home seekers into buying illegal stands on wetlands.
More: NewZimbabwe
