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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 32409, member: 636"] The Department of Physical Planning stepped up to explain its controversial home demolitions in Sukuta-Salagi. Security personnel helped clear out families from their properties, sparking widespread public anger. Government officials defended their actions as necessary for proper urban planning. Momodou Taal, the deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Lands, broke down the layout's history. The Salagi Layout started in 2001 when the government first acquired the land. Officials created residential plots with spaces reserved for public services like schools, mosques, and community centers. They also planned spots for police stations, fire services, utilities, markets, and parking areas. The problem arose because those public service organizations never developed their allocated spaces. Empty lands became targets for people looking to build homes. The ministry complained that both public spaces and residential plots faced unauthorized construction. Residents like Mariama Bojang told heartbreaking stories. She explained how her family bought land legally, paid taxes, and registered with local leaders. Suddenly, bulldozers arrived and destroyed everything they had built over years. Cherno and Molly Cham described how quickly the demolition happened without proper warning. The government insists it follows legal procedures for land allocation and promises to compensate the original Kabilo landowners according to national compensation laws. However, affected residents remain determined to fight for their rights and challenge the demolition. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between government planning and community land use. [/QUOTE]

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