What Then Shall We Say? Is Harare Concealing Evidence?
Mpundu Valerie
What then shall we say?
Is this a case of the City of Harare "inovhura pahombe ichida kuvhara padiki?
After reports of negligence in Southerton, where an open pit left unattended for over two years had become a den for aspiring murderers, thieves and muggers, the City of Harare appears to have pulled one over our faces.
The council hurriedly covered the pit that had been open for over two years, pending investigation. What then shall we say? Had it not been reported, would they have taken action? Had Hon Makahamadze not filed his case against the City of Harare, would they have moved?
As seen in the picture, pending investigations, they cleverly opened acres of land just to cover that pit. Is this what they call obstruction or trying to conceal?
One Southerton resident who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization said: "That pit has been here for more than two years. We reported many times. Vanambavha vaitovanda imomo, they would rob people and run inside. Now that it has been reported, the council just came overnight and covered it. Why now?"
Another resident added, "They destroyed evidence. How can investigators come and see what we were complaining about if it's already covered? They opened another big place just to cover this one, so now we have two problems. That's not fixing, that's concealing."
The pit had become a serious security threat. For two years, complaints fell on deaf ears. It only took our report and the court case to force council into action, and they acted by concealing. By covering the pit before investigators could assess the extent of negligence, has the City of Harare not destroyed crucial evidence? This is a developing story our ears and eyes are on the ground and its match on.
City of Harare Southerton pit
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