Zim Human Rights Commission orders city of Harare to compensate Mbare residents for flooding
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has ordered the Harare City Council (HCC) to pay compensation to Mbare residents whose property was destroyed by flooding. The homes were flooded last year after water was trapped by recently-constructed Harare Sunshine Bazaar mall. The ZHRC ruled that the city of Harare had
“failed to exercise due diligence and supervise construction of the structure.”
In the event that the HCC is unwilling to pay the compensation, the affected households would be referred to lawyers for legal action.
Part of the report by the ZHRC reads:
This will ensure that the local authority takes into account the human rights of residents in their municipal area when initiating developmental projects. Harare City Council should carry out rehabilitative measures of the drainage system to prevent further incidents of flash floods.
Harare City Council be engaged in regard to the issue of compensation and if such engagement fails, the affected households be referred to partner organisations for litigation. Before embarking on projects that impact on the general public, there should be public consultations.
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