The Harare City Council recently halted plans to demolish over 5,000 houses built illegally on council land. This decision followed a government directive requiring the council to provide affected homeowners with at least four months' notice before proceeding with demolitions.
Council officials engaged in consultations with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to determine the appropriate course of action. Mayor Jacob Mafume confirmed that demolitions were temporarily suspended, while acting chief development control officer James Mazvimba indicated that demolitions would eventually resume following ministerial guidance.
The council had initially issued 48-hour eviction notices to residents in affected areas, targeting properties in suburbs such as Mabelreign, Budiriro, Kuwadzana, Glen View, and Mabvuku. The City of Harare sought to enforce 37 High Court orders authorizing the demolition of houses built on illegal settlements.
However, Minister Daniel Garwe intervened, emphasizing the right to shelter and advising the council to provide adequate notice of three to four months to allow residents to vacate and resettle properly. The minister criticized the council's eagerness to demolish homes without sufficient consideration for the affected individuals.
The council argued that the demolitions were necessary to enforce urban planning regulations and curb unauthorized developments. In a recent case, the council demolished over 30 houses in Belvedere, claiming the structures were illegally constructed on council-owned land that had been unlawfully allocated by a private company using fraudulent documents.
Council officials engaged in consultations with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to determine the appropriate course of action. Mayor Jacob Mafume confirmed that demolitions were temporarily suspended, while acting chief development control officer James Mazvimba indicated that demolitions would eventually resume following ministerial guidance.
The council had initially issued 48-hour eviction notices to residents in affected areas, targeting properties in suburbs such as Mabelreign, Budiriro, Kuwadzana, Glen View, and Mabvuku. The City of Harare sought to enforce 37 High Court orders authorizing the demolition of houses built on illegal settlements.
However, Minister Daniel Garwe intervened, emphasizing the right to shelter and advising the council to provide adequate notice of three to four months to allow residents to vacate and resettle properly. The minister criticized the council's eagerness to demolish homes without sufficient consideration for the affected individuals.
The council argued that the demolitions were necessary to enforce urban planning regulations and curb unauthorized developments. In a recent case, the council demolished over 30 houses in Belvedere, claiming the structures were illegally constructed on council-owned land that had been unlawfully allocated by a private company using fraudulent documents.
