HARARE, Jun. 3 (NewsDay Live) - Residents of Stoneridge in Harare South are counting their losses after authorities demolished homes built on a disputed 20-hectare piece of land reportedly owned by a Chinese national.
The demolitions left scores of families homeless, with women, children, war veterans and youths among those affected. Many residents watched helplessly as bulldozers reduced their homes to rubble, leaving them stranded in the open with no immediate alternative accommodation.
Affected families said they lost household property and investments made over several years, raising concerns over their welfare and the humanitarian impact of the operation.
Residents have appealed for urgent intervention from government and local authorities, saying they now face uncertainty over shelter, security and access to basic services.
The disputed land has been at the centre of ownership wrangles, although details surrounding the legal status of the settlement and the circumstances leading to the demolitions were still emerging at the time of publication.
The demolitions have reignited debate over land allocation, urban housing challenges and the protection of vulnerable communities amid growing disputes over land ownership in and around Harare
