President Mnangagwa stopped house demolitions in Harare

Social media pressure got Emmerson Mnangagwa to slam the brakes on a demolition drive that was wiping out dozens of homes in Harare.

Mnangagwa steps in over the Harare demolitions

• President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered the National Employment Council to quit tearing down houses in Hopely and Stoneridge.
• Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe confirmed the directive came after Mnangagwa saw the reports and social media images of homes being leveled.
• Garwe announced on Wednesday, saying the President directed him to halt the demolitions forthwith.
• The government's stated position is that no one should have their house torn down without accountability.

What was going on in Hopely and Stoneridge

• The NEC, which holds the land title for both suburbs, was behind the demolition drive.
• At least 54 households in the two high-density suburbs got caught up in the teardown.
• The NEC claimed the cleared land was needed to make way for an industrial project.
• Allegedly, no court order had been granted to authorize any of the demolitions.

Why the government is pushing back

• Minister Garwe said the demolitions ran directly against the government's people-focused development goals.
• Mnangagwa's intervention signals that the NEC overstepped its authority by proceeding without proper legal backing.