SEVERAL families and tens of thousands of small-to-medium businesses—whose structures occupy open spaces, farms, wetlands, vleis, and school or clinic sites—risk losing their properties as Harare intensifies its crackdown on land invasions across the city.
A Harare City Council task force recently visited 22 255 sites, with authorities warning that structures built on prohibited or protected land will not be spared in the upcoming blitz.
Several properties in Harare South, Whitecliff, and other areas have already been demolished, leaving many families homeless.
Affected businesses have lost goods worth thousands of US dollars after allegedly ignoring several warnings from authorities.
According to a town clerk’s report on the regularisation and demolition of illegal structures, further clearances are earmarked for parts of Greendale, Belvedere, Budiriro, Kuwadzana, and Mabvuku.
Other targeted areas include Glen View, Mabelreign, Tynwald, Crowborough, Chisipite, Glen Lorne, Southlea Park, Hopley, Mainway Meadows, Tafara, and Hatcliffe.
The report indicated that the Harare City Council is targeting illegal settlements linked to land barons, politically connected individuals, and organised groups occupying land earmarked for public facilities 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 noted.
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In some instances, invaders are occupying land already allocated or leased to other beneficiaries, while bona fide allottees follow due processes for infrastructure development before taking possession.
“Such invaders occupy the land illegally, anticipating regularization. All these illegal developments shall be demolished,” the report said.
The report added that some invaders used documents with scanned or forged signatures, such as offer letters, agreements of sale, and title deeds.
This is reportedly rampant in medium- and low-density areas; all fake documents are being reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, and illegal developments will be demolished following due process.
“A clear message is being sent to all land barons that the council will not tolerate lawlessness or the abuse of the Co-operative Act and Parallel Development Concept by politically connected individuals and elites who invade council and government land,” the report said.
Harare South residents told NewsDay during the demolitions this week that the destruction of schools and houses has left them without alternatives.
“Schoolchildren have been greatly affected; authorities should have given residents enough time to make alternative arrangements,” an affected resident said.
Residents expressed deep concern that many children will fall behind in their studies and curricula.
“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,” another resident said.
Harare Residents Trust executive director Precious Shumba said yesterday the conflict could have been resolved through the publication of the Justice Tendai Uchena Commission of Inquiry report.
“That report contains specific details about the land barons involved in parcelling out council and state land. We believe the President has a duty to publish it in the public interest,” Shumba said.
He added that city fathers have a duty to inform the public about land use as developments begin.
“Housing developments are taking place, yet there is a shocking lack of development control from the City of Harare and various local authorities. They see developments taking shape but do not intervene,” Shumba said.
He said local authorities stopped servicing land for housing long ago, leading to thousands of rural migrants flooding urban centres.
Harare mayor Jacob Mafume stated yesterday: “These were private actors following their own court orders and processes. This is not our land, so we cannot comment.”
Despite the demolition drive, the city council continues its parallel regularization programme for settlements that meet planning requirements.
However, the town clerk’s report clarified that this exercise excludes settlements on environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands, heritage sites, school sites, and recreational centres, as well as any invasions occurring after the September 24, 2023, cutoff date.
More than 5 000 houses in high-density suburbs will be demolished under 37 High Court orders, alongside structures in over 40 “illegal” cooperatives.
In Mabelreign and surrounding low-density areas—including Meyrick Park, Sentosa, and Madokero—67 structures are slated for demolition.
At the Glen View 8 complex, structures along Willowvale Road will not be spared, and approximately 200 properties constructed along the Harare Drive expansion route will also be razed. Greendale and Amby Township will see 45 and 13 illegal stands demolished, respectively.
At Robert Mugabe Square, the mayor reportedly ordered the reversal of leases and the demolition of illegal structures, while bulldozers are also set to target illegal restaurants, bars, and car washes in Milton Park and Waterfalls.
