Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Harare Metropolitan Province has launched a 45-day operation to demolish illegal structures on wetlands in and around the capital.
The campaign, which coincided with the onset of the rainy season, is expected to run until December 15.
The operation code-named “Operation Zero Tolerance to Environmental Crimes” will be conducted in Harare, Chitungwiza, Ruwa, and Epworth with the assistance of the police.
Each local authority will be expected to provide both material and human resources for the operation.
Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary, Tafadzwa Muguti, said:
We are aware that our councils are actively involved in parcelling out land in wetlands.
All housing developments in wetlands shall be stopped, with all cases of purchase or award of such land being reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
Muguti said institutions, shop owners, companies, vendors, public transporters, actual passengers, and the general citizenry who violate statutory requirements will be targeted.
Meanwhile, Chitungwiza acting town clerk, Evangelista Machona, said the blitz will be focusing on four environmental issues. She said in a notice:
The operation is a response to concerns raised by the Presidium over increased environmental crimes in Harare province.
The operation is specifically focusing on four environmental issues; solid waste management, invasion of wetlands, illegal sand abstraction and illegal brick-moulding and emissions.
Machona said Chitungwiza Municipality had been asked to provide 80 municipal police officers, 10 tipper trucks, three front-end loaders, five compactors and fuel for the exercise.
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