|
Zim stops demolition campaign
16/07/2005 10:39 - (SA)
Harare - The Zimbabwe government has temporarily halted its two-month old urban demolition campaign to allow residents of wealthier suburbs time to "regularise" illegal structures built on private properties, a newspaper reported on Saturday.
Minister for Local Government Ignatius Chombo said residents of Harare's low-density suburbs would be given 10 days from Monday to register structures built without planning permission, or prove that structures on their properties were built with official permission.
The demolition campaign, dubbed "Operation Restore Order", was launched by the police two months ago and has already seen riot police sweeping through low-income suburbs of Zimbabwe's towns and cities, demolishing backyard shacks, cottages and housing co- operatives deemed illegal.
Human rights groups say at least 300 000 people have been made homeless by the campaign, which has also been condemned by many Western countries and churches.
Last week police announced that the operation would extend to wealthier suburbs of the Zimbabwe capital. More than 400 illegal "structures" have already been demolished in suburbs including Hatfield and Waterfalls. - Sapa-dpa
|
News
