HARARE – LEAD president Linda Masarira has called on authorities to convert Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume’s unauthorized hostel in Belvedere into a drug rehabilitation centre instead of demolishing it.
This comes after revelations that Mafume illegally transformed his residential property into a hostel without the necessary approvals. During a Harare Commission of Inquiry session, City of Harare inspector David Wadarwa testified that he would recommend demolishing the unauthorized renovations.
Masarira, in a letter to the Commission chaired by retired judge Justice Maphios Cheda, highlighted Zimbabwe’s worsening drug abuse crisis and the need for rehabilitation facilities, especially for low-income individuals.
“Substance abuse is on the rise, yet rehabilitation services remain inadequate. Repurposing this structure would provide detoxification, counseling, and vocational training to help reintegrate affected individuals into society,” she wrote.
Mafume previously admitted to bypassing council regulations by failing to apply for a “change of use” permit for his commercial venture. Under scrutiny, Wadarwa admitted he had approved inspections on a building that did not match submitted plans, blaming it on pressure from superiors.
Masarira proposed that the repurposed facility be managed through public-private partnerships involving the government, NGOs, and addiction recovery specialists. She urged the Commission to consider her proposal before proceeding with demolition, arguing it aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Drug Master Plan and international best practices favoring rehabilitation over punitive measures.
