Remember Deketeke
Municipal Correspondent
City of Harare has identified at least 100 properties that could face demolition after the expiry of its 14-day compliance ultimatum to owners of partially regularised settlements, with the local authority insisting that demolition will be a last resort.
Acting town clerk Advocate Warren Chiwawa said the affected properties were mainly those developed in sensitive areas where regularisation was not possible.
He said the exact number of properties to be demolished would depend on the level of compliance by affected property owners during the 14 days.
“The City of Harare has no appetite to demolish people’s homes. We want to regularise them,” he said.
“Across the City, very few properties can be negatively affected as they are developed in sensitive areas and cannot be regularised.
“Our initial assessment indicated that less than 100 properties across the City can be affected, but the exact number will be informed by compliance levels. Demolitions will commence at the expiry of the 14-day compliance period, but as a last resort.”
The ultimatum is part of Council’s efforts to address illegal land developments and enforce compliance with planning regulations amid concerns over settlements established without adequate infrastructure and social amenities.
Adv Chiwawa said the city was determined to restore order in land administration, warning that enforcement measures would be implemented against those who continued to disregard planning requirements.
The local authority has been working to regularise settlements developed under the 2004 Parallel Development Policy, which was introduced to provide decent and affordable housing but was subsequently manipulated by land barons.
The policy resulted in land invasions and the development of settlements without adequate water supplies, sewer systems, roads, schools and health facilities.
Council began regularising the affected settlements in 2017, but progress has been uneven, particularly on municipal and State land, where some residents and developers have continued to disregard its requirements.
Adv Chiwawa said the city had made progress in settlements developed on private land, citing Chiremba Park, Masasa Park and Audor Investment in Southlea Park as examples where developers had co-operated with the regularisation process.
However, he said compliance had been slower on municipal and State land, prompting Council to intensify enforcement.
The city has also indicated that affected property owners will be required to pay penalties starting at US$1 500 or the equivalent in Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), with the exact amount determined by the nature and severity of the violations.
Payment plans are available, and Council has extended payment deadlines to give affected residents greater flexibility to meet the requirements.
Adv Chiwawa said the regularisation exercise was intended to accommodate residents who may have purchased stands in good faith, while ensuring that illegal land transactions and construction activities were brought to an end.
He urged affected residents to take advantage of the regularisation process, warning that illegal construction must stop immediately.
The city is also working with law enforcement agencies to prevent further illegal land sales and construction, as it seeks to strengthen compliance with planning regulations and restore orderly urban development.
