Shelter Zim Threatens Demolitions in Mabvuku-Chizh...

Shelter Zim Threatens Demolitions in Mabvuku-Chizhanje

Oscar J Jeke – Zim Now Reporter

Shelter Zimbabwe, a private housing developer, has issued a stern warning of imminent demolitions in the Chizhanje area of Mabvuku, claiming the land was illegally occupied and subdivided by land barons.

According to the developer, these land barons sold unapproved housing stands to unsuspecting home seekers, who have since built houses in violation of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act. The Act prohibits construction on unapproved or unregularised land.

The Combined Harare Residents Association confirmed the land dispute, saying the property was seized and parceled out without any legal authority. In a statement, CHRA urged residents to be cautious when purchasing land and avoid relying on the hope that their structures might be regularised in future.

“We encourage residents to be thorough when purchasing housing stands and stop gambling on the regularisation provisions in the planning law by building houses on unapproved land,” said CHRA.

The association has called for a joint investigation by Shelter Zimbabwe and the City of Harare to expose and prosecute the individuals behind the illegal land sales. CHRA emphasized that most of the affected residents are victims of fraudulent schemes and should not be further punished.

This development comes amid the City of Harare’s ongoing push to demolish or regularise houses built on illegal sites. Many of the structures were allocated by self-proclaimed land agents acting outside the law, putting residents’ investments at risk.

CHRA warned that the situation highlights Zimbabwe’s broader urban housing crisis, calling for greater collaboration between private developers and public authorities to prevent similar occurrences in the future.