Epworth Plans to Relocate 16,000 Households From Wetlands and Unplanned Areas

Illegal and unplanned settlements have become a major urban planning challenge in Epworth.

EPWORTH – The Epworth Local Board has drawn up plans to relocate approximately 16,000 households currently settled on ecologically sensitive wetlands and other unplanned areas.

Town secretary Wilton Mhanda said the local authority has begun an enumeration exercise targeting affected households as it awaits central government approval of its master plan, which is expected to create space for an orderly relocation programme.

Speaking on the sidelines of a full council meeting held at the local authority's offices on Thursday, Mhanda said the board was also taking steps to prevent further illegal development on wetlands and unzoned land.

“We have about plus or minus 16,000 households on wetlands or unplanned areas,” Mhanda said.

“Currently, what we are doing is to discourage any further development on wetlands or on unplanned areas.

“We have enumerated those people who have been settling on those wetlands for quite some time.

“What we are looking forward to is the approval of our Master Plan so that we can create space to relocate them from wetlands or any other unplanned areas.”

The proposed relocation comes amid growing concern over the environmental and public health risks associated with settlements on wetlands and unplanned land. Mhanda also warned prospective home-seekers against buying land from illegal developers, commonly known as land barons. He said such operators often prey on vulnerable residents through fraudulent and unauthorised land sales, leaving buyers at risk of losing their investments or facing displacement.

The local authority is now pinning its hopes on the approval of its master plan to facilitate planned development and provide alternative areas for households currently living in unsuitable locations. The enumeration exercise is expected to help the Epworth Local Board establish the number of affected households and plan for their potential relocation once the necessary approvals are secured.

Epworth households relocated from wetlands