Published: 8 hours ago

Thousands of families and small-to-medium enterprises across Harare are facing possible displacement as the city intensifies a large-scale crackdown on illegal settlements and unauthorised developments built on protected or improperly allocated land.

The Harare City Council says a recent task force inspection covering 22 255 sites has identified widespread illegal occupation of wetlands, open spaces, farms, school land and other restricted areas, setting the stage for an expanded demolition exercise.

Several demolitions have already begun in areas including Harare South and Whitecliff, where residential and commercial structures were destroyed following what authorities say were repeated warnings to occupants.

According to a council town clerk's report on the regularisation and demolition of illegal structures, further operations are expected in Greendale, Belvedere, Budiriro, Kuwadzana, Mabvuku, Glen View, Mabelreign, Tynwald, Crowborough, Chisipite, Glen Lorne, Southlea Park, Hopley, Mainway Meadows, Tafara and Hatcliffe, among other suburbs.

The report states that the city is targeting developments linked to land invasions allegedly orchestrated by land barons, politically connected individuals and organised groups who have occupied land reserved for public infrastructure or environmental protection.

"Well-organised and coordinated rampant land invasions, fueled by politicians across the political divide, land barons, and general invaders, intensified around August 2023," the report said.

Authorities say some occupants are settling on land already allocated to lawful beneficiaries, while others are using forged documents such as offer letters, agreements of sale and even fraudulent title deeds.

"A clear message is being sent to all land barons that the council will not tolerate lawlessness," the report added, noting that all fake documents are being reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

The crackdown has triggered distress among affected residents, particularly in Harare South, where families say they have been left homeless and children's education disrupted.

"Schoolchildren have been greatly affected; authorities should have given residents enough time to make alternative arrangements," one resident said.

Another affected homeowner said: "We are deeply hurt because we have nowhere to live. We are appealing for assistance, as this is the only home we have ever known."

Harare Residents Trust executive director Precious Shumba said the situation could have been mitigated through the publication of findings from the Justice Tendai Uchena Commission of Inquiry into land issues, which reportedly contains detailed information on land allocation irregularities and land barons.

Harare mayor Jacob Mafume said the current demolitions involve private actors acting under court orders, adding that the municipality was not directly responsible for some of the disputed actions.

"These were private actors following their own court orders and processes. This is not our land, so we cannot comment," he said.

Despite the demolition drive, the city says it is also pursuing a parallel regularisation programme for settlements that comply with planning laws and are not located on protected land.

However, authorities clarified that the programme excludes developments on wetlands, heritage sites, school land, recreational spaces, and all illegal settlements established after September 24, 2023.

The city also confirmed that more than 5 000 houses in high-density suburbs are earmarked for demolition under existing High Court orders, alongside structures in over 40 housing cooperatives deemed illegal.

In low-density suburbs such as Mabelreign, Meyrick Park, Sentosa and Madokero, dozens of properties face removal, while structures along key infrastructure corridors, including Harare Drive expansion routes and Willowvale Road, are also set for demolition.

City officials say the enforcement drive is aimed at restoring order to urban planning, but the scale of the operation has raised concerns over displacement, housing insecurity and the broader governance of land allocation in Zimbabwe's capital.
- newsday

You might also want to read this

• Companies abandon Harare CBD
• Another new interchange for Harare
• Etihad expansion puts Harare back on global aviation map
• Har­are's 'pseudo malls' spark safety fears
• Harare gets US$1m for health sector upgrade
• Privatisation of services riles Harare residents
• Harare halts gravel mining at Warren Hills
• Harare issues a 48-hour ultimatum
• Harare gets flak over maintenance neglect
• Harare master plan suffers a major setback