Around 200 houses and properties, including two luxury mansions on the foothills of the National Heroes Acre, have been illegally constructed on land reserved for the Harare Drive expansion project and are now at risk of demolition.
The City of Harare says Harare Drive was originally designed to form a circular route around the city, and its plans remain unchanged.
According to the original 1998 detailed engineering designs, the missing sections of the Harare Drive ring road are intended to connect key areas, including Solomon Mujuru Drive (formerly Kirkman Road) at Warren Hills to Gleneagles Road in Southerton, Houghton Park through Mainway Meadows, Retreat to Seke Road, then to Twentydales Road in Hatfield to Mutare Road in Msasa.
However, widespread encroachment has occurred, especially in the Waterfalls and Retreat suburbs, where more than 100 houses have been built on the Harare Drive road reserve.
In Waterfalls, particularly in Mainway Meadows, a visible divide exists where residents have left a 60-meter-wide corridor free of development in recognition of the future path of Harare Drive.
However, in areas like Retreat, construction continues unchecked, with reports of land barons illegally pegging stands in anticipation of the road’s development.
Minister Oliver Makoni, who leads the Church of Grace Ministries and built a structure in Retreat along the planned path of Harare Drive, denied that they had encroached on land designated for the road. He said:
<blockquote>
We have never been informed by the City Council about any encroachment issues.
We have a site plan, and our papers are in order, all the papers are at Rowan Martin. Why can’t you obtain a GPS report, they have that GPS. It can verify whether we have encroached or not.
It’s nearly 10 years now, but above all the City should know that peoples’ lives are important than a road.
</blockquote>
Harare City Council acting director of urban planning, Samuel Nyabezi, acknowledged the existence of many houses built on Harare Drive, particularly in the Retreat area. He said:
<blockquote>
Yes, there are many houses that have been built on Harare Drive, particularly in Retreat, but at some point, those structures shall be demolished because our plan for Harare Drive road expansion is clear.
</blockquote>
He also told The Herald that two mansions had been built near Harare Drive, close to the National Heroes Acre. 
Nyabezi said the owners of these houses had been informed that there would be no negotiations and the houses would be demolished. He added:
<blockquote>
The city council will never approve a house to be built on land reserved for a road. These people are just getting site plans and going on to build a full house.
At some point, those structures shall be demolished because our plan for Harare Drive road expansion is clear.
</blockquote>
Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, reiterated the city’s commitment to demolishing all illegal structures. Said Mafume:
<blockquote>
We will demolish all those illegal structures. If you ask me to provide a solution, I will only push for demolition, because surely, you cannot build on land reserved for a road.
It’s perhaps the government that will stop us. You cannot build on land reserved for a road.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court recently ruled that demolishing homes without a court order is unconstitutional, presenting a significant challenge for local authorities.
<a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/200-houses-on-harare-drive-face-demolition/">More: The Herald</a>

Pindula News

Around 200 houses and properties built on land reserved for expanding Harare Drive may be demolished. The City of Harare originally planned for Harare Drive to be a circular road around the city, connecting key areas. Some houses were built illegally on the road reserve, especially in Waterfalls and Retreat suburbs. The City Council confirmed that these houses will be demolished, including two mansions near the National Heroes Acre. The mayor emphasized that illegal structures will be demolished, despite a recent ruling making it harder to do so without a court order.

200 Houses Built On Land Reserved For Harare Drive Expansion Face Demolition

The City of Harare carried out demolitions of dozens of houses in the Ridgeview area of Belvedere on Thursday, November 7, claiming the structures were built with fraudulent documentation.
In a statement, the City of Harare explained that the illegal buildings had been torn down once before, last year.
However, the occupants, encouraged by land barons who had sold them the land, ignored the council’s orders and rebuilt the structures.
The council said that prior warnings had been issued to the illegal settlers, instructing them to vacate the area before the demolitions took place.
Samuel Nyabeza, the acting director of planning, confirmed that the city is intensifying efforts to remove illegal settlements.
He also issued a stern warning to land barons, stating that they will be arrested without hesitation or favouritism. Said Nyabeza:
<blockquote>
We have to restore order in the city and we will not tolerate a situation where people just build houses without approvals and permission from council. A settlement has to be planned with all amenities in place before people start building.
You cannot build a house without council-approved plans; you cannot build where there are no sewer and water facilities. We urge residents to check with the City of Harare before buying land. Even when building a structure, every stage should have council approvals.
</blockquote>
The City of Harare said the land barons who sold land to unsuspecting residents in Belvedere have been arrested before and are out on bail.
In the meantime, the council has vowed to expand its demolition efforts across various parts of the city, making it clear that it will not tolerate any form of land invasion.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The city of Harare destroyed many houses in Belvedere because they were built without permission. The council had warned the people to leave before demolishing the houses. Land barons sold the illegal land. The city plans to remove more illegal settlements. Residents should get approval before building. Land barons have been arrested in the past. The council will continue demolishing illegal houses to stop land invasion.

Harare City Council Demolishes Dozens Of Houses In Belvedere

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has castigated Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume for his remarks made before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee regarding the circumstances surrounding illegal structures at the Raylton Sports Club.
In a statement released on Wednesday, July 24th, the NRZ criticised Mafume, saying he should have verified the facts with the Harare Town Clerk before appearing before the parliamentary committee. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The NRZ would like to clarify some misrepresentations in averments by Harare Mayor, His Worship Jacob Mafume, regarding circumstances around illegal structures at the Raylton Sports Club.
While appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, the mayor appeared to give the impression that tuck-shops built on the land the NRZ is leasing from council were constructed by the Railways.
That assumption is incorrect, a misdirection and misleading. The NRZ lays out the facts of the matter as follows:
1. The tuck-shops are illegal structures which are a result of a fraudulent collusion between a former Harare Raylton bartender and the illegal occupiers through event hire permits misconstrued as leases.
2. The City of Harare (COH), acting on the event hire permits proceeded to approve the construction of the illegal structures without the blessing of the parent leaseholder who is NRZ.
3. On discovering the anomaly, the NRZ then wrote to the City of Harare objecting to the approvals of those building plans for tuckshops on the basis that there was no official lease with NRZ and that it conflicted heavily with the authorised land use per NRZ’s subsisting lease with the COH, which only permits use of land for sporting, recreation and incidental social events.
4. The NRZ reported the case to police resulting in the arrest of the culprits and also instituted internal disciplinary processes which resulted in the dismissal of the bartender.
5. Acting on the basis of our objection, the COH proceeded to withdraw its approvals for the building of the tuckshops and issued demolition orders on paper which they never carried through.
5. NRZ has a pending eviction court case in the High Court against the constructors of the illegal structures with COH as co-respondents.
Given the foregoing, we are surprised that His Worship the Mayor was unaware of the actual facts on the ground, which he could have easily confirmed with the Town Clerk’s office before going to Parliament.
If he had checked things properly, he would have applauded our efforts to evict the illegal occupants instead of besmirching the NRZ.
NRZ persisted in seeking COH intervention when the illegal constructions were on foundation but to no avail.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The NRZ is angry at Mayor Mafume for saying wrong things about illegal structures at Raylton Sports Club. They say the tuck-shops were built illegally by a dishonest bartender and others. The NRZ tried to stop the buildings, but they weren't successful. They reported the case to the police and fired the bartender. They also have a court case to evict the people who built the illegal structures. The NRZ says Mayor Mafume should have checked the facts before talking bad about them.

NRZ Hits Back At Mafume Over Raylton Sports Club Illegal Structures

Harare Metropolitan Province has launched a 45-day operation to demolish illegal structures on wetlands in and around the capital.
The campaign, which coincided with the onset of the rainy season, is expected to run until December 15.
The operation code-named “Operation Zero Tolerance to Environmental Crimes” will be conducted in Harare, Chitungwiza, Ruwa, and Epworth with the assistance of the police.
Each local authority will be expected to provide both material and human resources for the operation.
Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary, Tafadzwa Muguti, said:
<blockquote>
We are aware that our councils are actively involved in parcelling out land in wetlands.
All housing developments in wetlands shall be stopped, with all cases of purchase or award of such land being reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
</blockquote>
Muguti said institutions, shop owners, companies, vendors, public transporters, actual passengers, and the general citizenry who violate statutory requirements will be targeted.
Meanwhile, Chitungwiza acting town clerk, Evangelista Machona, said the blitz will be focusing on four environmental issues. She said in a notice:
<blockquote>
The operation is a response to concerns raised by the Presidium over increased environmental crimes in Harare province.
The operation is specifically focusing on four environmental issues; solid waste management, invasion of wetlands, illegal sand abstraction and illegal brick-moulding and emissions.
</blockquote>
Machona said Chitungwiza Municipality had been asked to provide 80 municipal police officers, 10 tipper trucks, three front-end loaders, five compactors and fuel for the exercise. | <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/structures-on-wetlands-to-be-demolished/">H-Metro</a>

Structures On Wetlands In Harare Province To Be Demolished

Chitungwiza Town Council on Friday destroyed illegal structures in the Chidochevanhu Beerhall compound in Unit N, Seke.
Grocery tuck shops, hair salons, and hardware shops, among others, had been erected within the compound.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200003174/chitown-demolishes-illegal-structures">NewsDay</a>, George Madongwe, a former council employee who leases Chidochevanhu beerhall, said the demolitions were unjustified. He said:
<blockquote>
Council’s actions were not justified and are a gross violation of human rights. No reasons were given for demolitions as there was no official communication from the council. Valuables worth US$50 000 have been lost.
The council was collecting revenue from these structures as late as November 3, 2022, and there are receipts to support that.
Can the council collect revenue from an illegal structure? There were also engagements with the council regarding the structures.
</blockquote>
Chitungwiza Residents Trust director Alice Kuveya also criticised Chitungwiza Municipality for destroying the structures without notice.
However, acting town clerk Evangelista Machona insisted that the structures were illegal. She said:
<blockquote>
Those were illegal structures because council leases do not allow the adjustment of infrastructure without the council’s approval. But this is what was done.
</blockquote>
Madongwe claimed that the necessary procedures were followed before the structures were erected. He said:
<blockquote>
I constructed the structures after notifying the council. I wanted to raise money to pay their exorbitant bills that I couldn’t pay from selling beer alone.
At the same time, I wanted to increase their revenue base as they would collect licence revenues from the shops.
I have enough evidence to debunk the council narrative that I did anything illegal.
I have requests for bill adjustments, payment plans, payments made and proposals for change of use.
I am a former council employee with special circumstances compared to ordinary leaseholders.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts (ZNOART) Chitungwiza chairperson Obert Matsika said the local authority should have acted in 2019 when the structures were built.
The municipality also demolished other illegal structures at Chigovanyika Shopping Centre in St Mary’s.

Chitungwiza Municipality Demolishes Illegal Structures

Harare Metropolitan Province has 52 000 illegal houses of which 25 000 are in Chitungwiza, a dormitory town less than 30km south of the capital.
This was said by Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution secretary Tafadzwa Muguti on Tuesday.
Muguti was speaking at a consultation workshop on the preparation of the Chitungwiza Municipality master plan. He said;
<blockquote>
Due to the absence of council master plans, land barons, and politicians grabbed the opportunity to amass ill-gotten wealth.
As we speak, dysfunctional settlements are the order of the day in towns such as Chitungwiza. We have over 52 000 illegal settlements in Harare province.
Some have no documents and some have corrupt documents. In Chitungwiza, we have 25 000. 
Government is having a headache trying to clear a mess that has been created by some opportunists who are not even council workers or government officials.
</blockquote>
Muguti said Chitungwiza municipality has been operating without a master plan since 1996. He said:
<blockquote>
This saw the local authority facing a lot of challenges, chief among them uncontrolled development.
We have witnessed the invasion of institutional stands, recreational as well as servitude turned into residential properties and these uncoordinated developments are causing a lot of challenges in Chitungwiza.
If someone is corrupt, they should face the law. If we see you building without documentation, we will act immediately.
</blockquote>
In the past, the government has demolished illegal houses in and around Harare as some of them were constructed on wetlands or land set aside for shops, schools, and sporting facilities, among other land uses. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200000791/52-000-illegal-homes-in-harare">NewsDay</a>

52 000 Illegal Houses In Harare Metropolitan Province

The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations of Residents Trust (ZNOART) has urged urban home-seekers to take due diligence in following laid down procedures of buying stands and the attendant procedures for building structures.
This comes after the recent demolitions of ‘illegal’ structures in Harare South, Budiriro, Warren Park and Zimre Park.
In a statement, ZNOART national chairperson Shalvar Chikomba said while there has been a lot of debate about the morality of razing people’s houses to the ground and the timing of the demolitions, it still remains a fact that illegalities should not be condoned.
Chikomba said there are precautionary measures which could save residents from losing their hard-earned money spent on erecting structures only to have them razed down. He said:
<blockquote>ZNOART advises all urban home-seekers to verify with relevant authorities (Council, Deeds Office and Surveyor General) whether the purported land has the following accompanying documents: Subdivision permit (issued after layout plans have been approved); Development Permit (issued after engineering designs have been approved by Council Engineers); Dispensation Certificate (issued after title survey has been approved by Surveyor General); Certificate of Compliance (issued by Council); Title deed of the property (which gives the legal name of the property and is verifiable at the Registrar of Deeds), among other pertinent precautions from being duped by unscrupulous land barons and corrupt Council officials and syndicates.</blockquote>

Here Is How To Avoid Being Duped By Land Barons, Corrupt Council Officials - Residents Trust

The opposition MDC Alliance (MDC-A) has urged local authorities to take legal action against officials in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for usurping their powers.
MDC-A Secretary for Local Government, Sesel Zvidzai alleged that officials from the Local Government Ministry are responsible for the allocation of urban land to cooperatives and persons with connections to the ruling ZANU PF.
In a statement on Wednesday, Zvidzai said the sprouting of unplanned residential properties on wetlands and on areas reserved for power lines, sewer pipes and water reticulation lines is a violation of both environmental and town planning laws and should be dealt with. Said Zvidzai:
<blockquote>We call upon the law enforcement authorities and central government to deal decisively with the menace of land barons who often hide behind government as they fleece home seekers of their resources, while at the same time ignoring calls for proper planning by the local authorities.
Those who have lost their homes due to fraudulent misrepresentations by land barons and central government officials must be duly compensated for the prejudice they have suffered.
We further call upon local authorities to conduct themselves proportionately and in a humane manner in their efforts to rectify the irregularities.</blockquote>
Zvidzai further implored local authorities not to rush to demolish the irregular structures but only to resort to demolitions as a last resort and where regularisation of the illegal buildings cannot be achieved.

MDC-A Urges Councils To Deal With Illegal Settlements 'Humanely'

<a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Mutare">Mutare</a> Mayor  Tatenda Nyamarare has denied reports that he was planning to hire touts to burn more than 760 illegal structure.  This follows an accusation by the the Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation Association (ZHPFA) that he was working with touts.   Luke Charles Mukungati ZHPFA chairperson told Newsday that
<blockquote>There was a commuter omnibus with touts that patrolled our area on Sunday and when we enquired over its mission, we were told that Nhamarare had hired them. A few hours later, we saw some people, but they fled when they were confronted by our people. We are aware that the mayor wanted the touts to set ablaze our structures</blockquote>
However, the Mayor refuted the allegations saying:
<blockquote>Mutare City Council has enough enforcers of by-laws and that has not yet started. Those are illegal structures and we are going to start the process in a few days to come.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/01/03/no-plans-unleashing-touts-illegal-settlers/">Newsday</a>

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