Harare — GOVERNMENT has banned the allocation of stands in unsuitable open spaces in all urban local authorities citing corruption, greed and abuse of authority by city fathers.

All people allocated infill stands on unsuitable pieces of land such as over water and sewer reticulation, under power pylons and along river and stream banks should approach their local authorities for compensation and reallocation.

Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo warned that local authorities that continued to abuse their authority would be dealt with accordingly.

He cited Chitungwiza and Harare as the major culprits. Almost all-open spaces in Chitungwiza including playgrounds, car parks, recreational and arts centres have been allocated as residential stands.

"Infills are being abused. Road reserves are being allocated residential stands. We have written to all local authorities that open spaces should remain as they are.

"Sometimes councillors are eager to please but do so out of ignorance," he said.

Several people allocated housing stands along the Harare-Hwedza highway in Chitungwiza have been ordered to stop construction after it emerged that the land they were allocated is a road reserve for the dualisation of the busy road.

In Harare, he said the situation was becoming untenable in Dzivaresekwa where infill stands were allocated on unsuitable land.

Minister Chombo made the remarks last week during celebrations to mark World Town Planning Day in Harare where he said development could not be allowed to mushroom organically.

"If you want land for housing development ask for it. Government has land. There is no need to congest people especially in Chitungwiza and Dzivaresekwa.

"Development needs to be properly guided by integrated spatial plans that are prepared following sound planning principles," he said.

"If a planner makes an error of judgment, the error will be reflected in the built environment which is the end product that the general public will see."

Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Herbert Murerwa told a recent housing convention in Victoria Falls that 68 farms had been gazetted for urban expansion.

"The Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement has gazetted 68 farms of which 44 are in Harare, one in Ruwa, one in Chinhoyi and the rest in Bulawayo," he said.