Demolition of houses in Harare Ridgeview.

By: Sam Mupedziswa

The City of Harare demolished dozens of houses in Ridgeview and Belvedere, labelling the structures as illegal. 

The demolitions are part of a broader citywide operation aimed at removing unauthorized buildings that city officials say disrupt urban planning efforts.

Despite warnings and similar incidents that happened in the year 2020, people still proceed to build. The city fathers advise everyone who has property on its land must make sure they have title deeds and approved plans to build properties. 

Harare’s Director of Planning, Samuel Nyabeza, defended the action, stressing the importance of compliance with urban development regulations. “You cannot build a house without council-approved plans. We have to restore order,” Nyabeza stated, emphasizing that adherence to planning laws is essential to maintain organized development within the city. 

The demolition has sparked heated debate among residents, many of whom point to Harare’s severe housing shortages as a factor driving the surge in unauthorized construction. Some argue that these demolitions only worsen the housing crisis, especially as the city struggles to keep pace with the demand for affordable housing. 

City officials, however, remain firm in their stance. They argue that unauthorized structures not only compromise Harare’s urban planning goals but also put additional strain on essential services and infrastructure, which are already stretched thin.

The operation marks a continued effort by Harare authorities to enforce building regulations amid rapid urban expansion, with more demolitions expected in other neighborhoods in the coming weeks. 

In the year 2020 at least 190 illegal houses were demolished by Harare City Council in Budiriro 5 with police arresting some of the city council boses on charges of parcelling out stands on Housing Cooperatives.