MARONDERA, June 2 (NewsDay Live) — Scores of small-scale traders in Marondera were left counting their losses on Tuesday after the Municipality of Marondera demolished illegal structures erected along the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) rail line.
The structures, built within the NRZ reserve, were allegedly controlled by politically connected individuals who collected monthly rentals from tenants.
For years, the NRZ and the local authority traded blame over responsibility for the proliferation of the steel-framed tuckshops.
A NewsDay Truth Diggers investigation published earlier this year revealed that some politically connected figures were charging rentals ranging from US$200 to US$400 per unit, depending on size.
The structures also posed health and safety risks, as they lacked ablution facilities, forcing traders and customers to resort to open defecation along the railway line.
They were further deemed hazardous because they were erected less than 10 metres from the railway track, well within the standard 45-metre setback required for rail safety and derailment protection.
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Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu said the demolitions were long overdue.
“The demolitions were long overdue. At least common sense has finally prevailed,” Matewu said.
“These structures were erected along the railway line, endangering lives and turning parts of Marondera into an eyesore.”
Marondera mayor Chengetai Murowa could not be reached for comment.
However, a NewsDay visit to the site found earth-moving equipment tearing down the structures as owners scrambled to salvage materials from the wreckage.