By Violet Gonda
14 July 2005

Operation Murambatsvina is said to be on its way to the leafy northern suburbs of Harare. However many are sceptical that it will actually happen because this is where most of Robert Mugabe's cronies live and shop. The clean up exercise has mostly targeted high density areas and few low density areas, except those north of the capital. But if the latest reports are implemented then the multi billion dollar Sam Levy's Village in Borrowdale could be destryed for allegedly contravening city by-laws. Commission spokesman Leslie Gwindi is reported to have told the news website Zimonline that the complex is an illegal structure and would be dealt with just like any other illegal structures.
Leslie Gwindi refused to be interviewed by us saying if we want answers we should send the questions by fax. Although Gwindi declined to comment about the proposed destruction of the shopping area Sam Levy's son, Morris, confirmed to us that he had heard about this in the newspapers but said that the complex would not be demolished because, "we had sorted it out."
This multi-billion dollar shopping mall in Harare's rich Borrowdale suburb houses up-market clothing boutiques, restaurants, bars, banks and offices. Morris Levy would not comment when asked if the mall was an illegal structure he said, "Ask the city of Harare."
If razed to the ground, the shopping complex would be the biggest, most modern and expensive group of buildings to be demolished under the government's controversial urban clean-up exercise.
Zimonline reports that the authorities said Sam Levy built the shopping complex years ago without authority from the city council and that he had not taken measures to rectify the matter and ensure his building conformed with municipal by-laws.