adminCharlotte Musarurwa – Municipal Reporter
Urban councils countrywide will soon demolish thousands of houses and other structures illegally built on undesignated locations to ensure all residential properties conform to prescribed land use policies.
Councils will target structures near major electricity infrastructure; on wetlands, sewer systems and planned roadways; and land reserved for other purposes.
However, some houses built on undesignated land will be spared if councils rule they are in “not-so-dangerous zones”. These will instead be regularised.
The Sunday Mail understands Government has authorised the demolitions.
Last week, tuck-shops, flea market stands and mobile phone booths erected at Harare’s Fourth Street Bus Terminus were destroyed.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Secretary Engineer George Mlilo said his minister, Dr Ignatius Chombo, communicated with council executives last week giving the green light.
“The demolitions are going ahead, though not everyone is going to be affected. They will affect those who have put up structures on critical sites. Local authorities will regularise houses that are not in dangerous zones, but those under electricity pylons, sitting on sewer lines, wetlands . . . those will definitely be demolished.
“That is the Government position regarding illegal structures; we want to come up with properly-planned structures.”
Illegal settlements have sprouted all over as demand for affordable accommodation and commercial stands grows.
Government intends to accelerate proper housing development through public-private partnerships, and targets to construct 125 000 housing units by 2018 under the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).
Over 1,2 million home-seekers are on the national housing waiting list — 500 000 of whom are mostly tenants in the capital city.
Harare City Council has reportedly run out of land for residential property development after parcelling out the last batch of peri-urban farms to housing co-operatives
Residents of a settlement in Harare’s Glen Norah suburb accuse council of lacking urban planning acumen, resulting in the chaotic situation.
The settlement — developed on top of a sewer system and close to electrical infrastructure —was once destroyed by municipal authorities, but has been reconstructed.
Mrs Constance Murenza said: “Council is not doing anything to provide decent accommodation, so we do not have any option but to buy stands with or without its approval. We need accommodation. It would be absurd for them to demolish my house.”
Mr Ngoni Zaranyika added, “When I bought this land, I was prepared to take the risks presented by wetlands or other ‘danger zones’. I only needed 100 square metres because that’s what I can afford.
“Council cannot demolish (our houses) because the economy is not performing well. Doing so would disadvantage us. In any case, this is the same council which is failing to provide land.”
In Chitungwiza, more than 14 000 houses have been illegally built on undesignated land, often with council officials and politicians pocketing money through the irregular deals. Demolitions of these houses began mid-2014 but were halted after affected residents approached the courts.
The matter is pending in the High Court.
Online Reporter