THE grabbing of recreational facilities for residential stands has reached alarming levels in Harare, amid reports that land barons are resisting a council resolution to stop the rot.
Land barons—often linked to Zanu PF, politically connected individuals, or organised crime syndicates—have operated with impunity in Harare for decades.
Sources yesterday said some of the land barons were working in cahoots with certain Harare City Council officials in the planning department.
“There is no way a land baron will come and build a recreational facility, it is very clear they are working with some council officials in the planning department,” said the source.
A resident of Warren Park, Willard Nyambiya, told Standard People that a facility intended for a basketball and tennis court, and its surrounding recreational space, has been grabbed.
“We have a basketball and tennis court meant for multipurpose and surrounding recreational facilities which has been grabbed,” Nyambiya alleged. “There are already churches and we have not been told of the change of use.”
Harare City Council’s sports, recreation, and arts committee chairperson, Stanley Manyenga, told Standard People yesterday that they had since passed a resolution to bar land barons from building houses on recreational facilities.
The most recent grabbing of a recreational facility has been reported in Warren Park 1, with plans to build churches and garages.
“We passed a resolution last month that we should stop the grabbing of recreational facilities for residential stands in Harare and we have realised that some recreational facilities have been regularised,” Manyenga said. “It is sad that in some instances you can go to a recreational facility and there are already houses built.”
He said investigations into the matter were ongoing.
Combined Harare Residents Association director, Rueben Akili, said the practice of turning recreational facilities into stands was now a trend across the city. He said it appears the local authority has accelerated the occupation and parcelling of stands on recreational land.
“The issue of turning recreational facilities or recreational public spaces into housing stands is not an issue which is only peculiar to Warren Park but has been a trend across the city,” Akili said. “The local authorities have received several petitions for your own information from several residents. The planning department at council is not transparent and have not been engaging residents.”
“It seems the council has accelerated occupying and parceling residential stands on recreational facilities and our complaints have fallen on deaf ears.”
Harare Residents Trust director, Precious Shumba, said the grabbing of recreational spaces was a recurring problem in Harare.
“The City of Harare is allowing change of reservation in some areas without transparently communicating with residents from surrounding properties to raise their objections if they have any,” Shumba said. “Land barons have also been at the forefront of invading council land and creating their own residential stands.”
Observers have warned that land barons exploit weak enforcement and alleged complicity within city departments, leaving legitimate home-seekers defrauded and communities deprived of vital public spaces.
Recreational facilities are essential public infrastructure that benefit all age groups within communities.