Harare Residents Demand Action Over Crime-Hit Abandoned Building
Residents of Section 33 in Harare, Khayelitsha, are calling for urgent action over an abandoned building they say has become a hotspot for crime, illegal dumping, and suspected drug activity.
Community members claim the neglected structure has been linked to robberies and has become a source of fear for people living nearby and those travelling through the area.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said groups of people regularly gather inside the building.
“We often see groups of young and older men gathering there to smoke. We do not know what else is happening inside,” the resident said.
Residents say the building has also become an illegal dumping site, creating health concerns for families, especially children.
Thando, a local resident, said people have reported hearing screams from inside the building and that some victims have allegedly been attacked nearby.
Some residents are calling for the building to be demolished, saying it has become a danger to the community.
Ward 98 councillor Anele Gabuza denied receiving requests for demolition, saying the building was previously a Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) facility but was vandalised.
Gabuza said clean-up efforts have been undermined by continued illegal dumping and urged residents to take responsibility for maintaining public spaces.
Residents say they want urgent intervention before the abandoned structure becomes a permanent threat to community safety.
Done By Liema Nyengule
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