Harare faces a looming crisis as the City Council plans to demolish over 5,000 houses built on land earmarked for essential services. This drastic measure, authorised by 37 High Court orders, targets illegal settlements primarily in high-density suburbs like Kuwadzana, Budiriro, Glen View, and Mabvuku. The council insists the demolitions are necessary to uphold the law and restore order, citing years of delays caused by political interference and exploitation by land barons.
“We have 37 High Court orders obtained by the City Council and private individuals to evict illegal settlers,” Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume told The Sunday Mail.
“These orders have not been enforced due to political interference and excuses that land barons have exploited to continue illegal developments. Not only do we have court orders, but we also have the Regional Town Planning Act, which is very clear on activities that have to happen in certain places.”
Councillor Mafume highlighted the severe consequences of the illegal constructions. “The tragedy of it all is that over 5,000 of these houses have been built in areas that were earmarked for schools, clinics, recreation and sporting facilities,” he explained.
“In the mornings, you see hundreds of children crossing Chitungwiza Road to reach schools in Highfield, Glen View and Glen Norah. It’s an unsustainable situation.”
The lack of essential services in these areas directly impacts residents, particularly children forced to travel long distances for education and healthcare.
The Mayor further emphasised the importance of enforcing city regulations, drawing a stark comparison to addiction.
“A city is an artificial construct which relies on the enforcement of the law and once people develop a habit of not enforcing the law, it becomes an addiction. It is an addiction worse than drug addiction,” he stated.
He described how land barons exploit these delays, utilising modern building techniques to rapidly construct illegal structures.
“They can construct a three-bedroom house in a weekend. It starts with a small cabin that is immediately occupied and called a ‘home’. By the time we take legal action, they would have built larger structures,” he said.
This rapid construction, coupled with legal ambiguities surrounding the definition of a “home,” significantly complicates enforcement efforts. “The problem is that our law does not define what is a home. Our law says that you must not interfere with a structure once that place becomes a home,” he explained.
Councillor Mafume urged the government to review legislation governing land distribution and unregulated settlements, advocating for improved collaboration between the council and government to resolve land disputes and harmonise urban development policies. He affirmed the council’s commitment to ongoing engagement with the government on these critical issues.
However, this stance is directly contradicted by the government. In a separate interview, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe categorically stated the government’s opposition to the demolitions.
“We gave them a blanket ban on demolitions, and there are no demolitions that are going to take place,” Minister Garwe declared. This stark disagreement creates a significant impasse, leaving the fate of the 5,000 homes hanging in the balance.
Adding to the complexity of the situation is evidence presented before the Commission of Inquiry into the Governance of Harare City Council. The commission heard testimony revealing how opposition CCC councillors, led by Audit Committee chairperson Councillor Blessing Duma, have allegedly usurped the housing department’s land allocation responsibilities. This alleged collusion with land barons has severely compromised land governance in Harare, effectively creating a free-for-all in residential stand allocation under the guise of a regularisation project.
Principal housing officer Mr Edgar Dzehonye testified before the Justice Maphios Cheda-led Commission, detailing instances of land barons receiving land allocations from councillors. He cited several examples, including the Svikiro Pay Scheme receiving 183 stands in Tafara, Warren Park and Greendale; the Tafara Pay Scheme, Maize View and Harare Housing Pay receiving a combined 183 stands in Tafara; and the New Dawn Pay Scheme receiving 70 stands in Warren Park and Park View.
This alleged mismanagement has created widespread chaos and facilitated illegal activities. The city’s housing department reportedly has no control over land allocation. The situation highlights a deep-seated problem of governance and highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reform within the city council.
