The City of Harare carried out demolitions of several illegal structures in the Ridgeview area of Belvedere on Thursday, November 7, citing fraudulent documentation as the reason for their removal.
According to a statement from the city council, the buildings had previously been demolished last year, but many of the occupants, encouraged by land barons who sold them the land, rebuilt the structures in defiance of council orders.
The City of Harare emphasized that the affected residents had been warned in advance to vacate the area. Samuel Nyabeza, the acting director of planning, confirmed that the city is ramping up efforts to eliminate illegal settlements.
“We are committed to restoring order within the city. We will not tolerate unauthorized constructions,” Nyabeza said. “Every settlement must be properly planned, with all necessary infrastructure in place, before any construction begins.”
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He also issued a strong warning to land barons, stressing that they will face arrest without leniency. “You cannot build a house without council-approved plans, and you cannot build where there are no essential services like water and sewerage,” Nyabeza added. “We urge residents to verify land ownership and obtain proper council approvals before buying property or commencing any construction.”
The City of Harare also noted that land barons who have previously sold land to unsuspecting buyers in Belvedere have been arrested and are currently out on bail.
Looking ahead, the city has announced plans to extend its demolition campaign to other areas, making it clear that it will not tolerate any illegal land invasions or unauthorized building activities.
