Harare Municipal Demolitions Leave Residents Displaced Amid Land Disputes

Municipal authorities in Harare carried out the demolition of residential properties in the St Martins Extension suburb on August 14, 2026, leaving multiple families displaced. The City of Harare stated that the operation was conducted to enforce urban planning regulations against structures erected without approved plans.

Affected residents maintained that they had acquired their residential stands through official council-linked procedures. Resident Methro Masunga stated that she began paying for her stand in 2015 and received formal council documentation in 2020. Another resident, Joachim Nhete, reported losing an investment of over $10,000, noting that he had no home insurance to recover the financial loss.

The demolitions have highlighted ongoing legal disputes between residents and city officials. On October 29, 2025, Justice Happias Zhou of the High Court issued a consent order under case HCH5444/25, setting aside demolition notices for specified applicants in St Martins Extension and prohibiting evictions without a valid court order. It has not been established whether the specific properties destroyed on August 14 were included under that judicial protection.

According to municipal records, more than 5,000 homes across Harare face potential demolition under 37 outstanding High Court orders, and a council task force has inspected 22,255 sites for unapproved structures. City Council spokesperson Stanley Gama stated to local media that authorities targeted only illegal structures whose owners had received prior warnings. Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume told local media that property owners with approved plans were required to present them during inspections.

Section 74 of the Zimbabwean Constitution prohibits home demolitions or evictions without a court order that considers all relevant circumstances. Precious Shumba, director of the Harare Residents' Trust, stated that the municipal planning and legal departments issued directives to execute the demolitions despite existing court rulings. Local Member of Parliament Trymore Kanopula called for a suspension of demolitions pending an audit of land allocations, while Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe stated that central government does not carry out demolitions and cannot interfere with judicial processes.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com