The City of Harare has identified 167 sites and structures for demolition as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal land occupations and developments across the capital.
The extensive list, contained in a report by the Town Clerk, covers areas ranging from residential neighbourhoods and open spaces to school sites, wetlands, road reserves and council land. The council says the action forms part of its regularisation and enforcement programme aimed at restoring order in the city.
The report shows that the council’s Regularisation Task Force has so far assessed 101 settlements, with 93 sites regularised, while 12 sites were considered but not recommended for regularisation.
However, developments that fall outside the regularisation framework face enforcement. These include invasions of wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas, school sites, recreational centres, low-density areas and new invasions that occurred after the September 24, 2023 cut-off date.
Among the areas listed are Greendale, Belvedere, Budiriro, Kuwadzana, Glenview, Mabelreign, Mabvuku, Glen Lorne, Chisipite, Glen Norah, Kambuzuma, Crowborough, Mbare, Braeside and Hopley, among others.
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The report says illegal structures have been erected on land reserved for schools, open spaces, roads, wetlands and other public purposes. In some cases, residents have already been served with 48-hour notices, while other cases are awaiting court orders or enforcement operations.
Kuwadzana Paddocks features prominently on the list, with several housing cooperatives facing enforcement after the council obtained court orders. The report records several cooperatives in the area, with structures described as having been erected illegally since 2012.
The council has also targeted illegal developments in Budiriro, where several sites are located on wetlands or land reserved for schools. Some cases are before the courts, while others have been earmarked for demolition after regularisation was ruled out.
In its report, the council accuses land barons and other actors of driving invasions, including through the use of allegedly fake offer letters and other documents. It says illegal developments will be demolished after due process.
The demolition campaign also extends to commercial areas. In Mbare, the council lists illegal tuck shops, invasions of council land and structures at sites including Njere Car Park and the Mbare Research Centre.
Some sites on the 167-item schedule, however, are not facing immediate demolition. The report records cases awaiting court outcomes, further Task Force assessments, enforcement operations or possible regularisation.
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