After selling his Nissan Elgrand vehicle and securing a loan from a local financial institution to build his house, Titus Runesu looks at his five-roomed house under construction along Harare Airport road with pride.
by XOLISANI NCUBE
He smiles, then frowns, doubtful if his dream of a secure future for his two children is safe. He is thinking of the recent threats by government to demolish all structures along the airport road because they have been deemed illegal.
For the house to be what it is today, Runesu had to forgo the leisure of putting on his favourite Chinese-styled tailor-made suits, driving his family to and from work and school, throwing weekend parties for his family and even decent meals for his two children.
His wife, Melinda has since forgotten the taste of her favourite fast food meal.
With uncombed kinky hair, Melinda now uses the local hairdresser in a desperate attempt to maintain a respectable look as she can no longer afford luxurious salons in town.
Although she is employed as a primary school teacher, she last changed her wardrobe two years ago and at her workplace she has been nicknamed “Mrs Green” for her legendary green outfit which she has maintained as the only attire for special occasions — all in a bid to support her husband in building their dream house.
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Like many Zimbabweans, owning a residential stand is a milestone achievement and putting up a respectable structure is a dream which calls for big celebrations. Runesu is among those hoping to toast to a new house in the next few months, if things go according to plan.
But his dream risks being shattered by threats from government to evict all settlers along the Harare Airport road. They have been given 14 days to vacate the area.
“After all the effort I put up to ensure my family has something to their name, being told to vacate the place because we settled at the wrong place is painful. I borrowed $4 000 from the bank, sold my car and used all our savings and today we are being told to vacate the place. This is injustice we cannot stand and watch,” Runesu told The Standard.
He says while President Robert Mugabe might have a genuine concern about the developments, his government was to blame as they allowed them to build the houses and even approved their building plans when they were aware that the land on which they were settled was not suitable.
“We bought this stand from someone who has been contributing to Nyikavanhu Housing Cooperative, registered with the Small to Medium Enterprises ministry,” Runesu said.
“We have held our annual general meetings religiously and the cooperative accounts have been religiously audited. We really wonder what government means when they say that we are illegal occupants.”
Mugabe, two weeks ago, announced that all settlers located adjacent to the airport must be removed as the area was reserved for the expansion of the airport.
His directive jolted party functionaries led by Harare Provincial minister Miriam Chikukwa who immediately ordered the occupants to vacate the area within 14 days, but no one seems to have heeded the order.
“I have invested no less than $20 000 into this property. This is my entire life savings going down the drain. No normal person would allow his money to go to waste like this. We are not disobedient to our government. We are hardworking people who have sacrificed a lot for what we are and we have to defend what we have built over the years,” Runesu said.
His predicament is shared by many Zimbabweans who wish to own a house and in the process fall victim to Zanu PF land barons who parcel out land for votes and government’s corrupt land development system.
“We built our houses with council officials coming to inspect every stage of construction. So for the president to say we are not supposed to be here leaves a lot of questions as to what is really happening within government,” said Runesu.
But according to local MP Shadreck Mashayamombe, most of the families were settled there illegally.
“They just settled themselves there and we can’t allow such a thing to happen. We will help them get something,” Mashayamombe said. “We have identified land for relocation so we have given them 14 days to relocate on their own.
No one will use force on them,” Mashayamombe said.
The opposition has blamed Zanu PF for the haphazard housing system that has seen most open spaces in the capital being illegally occupied.
MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said although the planning authority was his party, Zanu PF had used violence to dish out land.
“This is a result of Zanu PF’s mishandling of the land in Harare. They have misled our people that they have land and protected land barons,” Gutu said.
But Mashayamombe, who is also Zanu PF provincial political commissar, said blaming his party was wrong as the MDC-T councillors were also to blame for causing corruption in the housing system.
