Harare City Council Dismisses Claims of Borehole Demolition in Glenview

The Harare City Council has refuted circulating reports suggesting that it intends to demolish a community borehole serving residents in Glenview.

Concerns were raised by community groups who feared that removing the facility would deprive more than 2,500 residents of access to clean water, especially as the dry season intensifies.

The misunderstanding arose after the council’s Department of Urban Planning issued a notice on October 6, 2025, directing the removal of illegal structures built on council-owned land. The notice stated that those occupying the land without a valid lease or council approval were doing so unlawfully and were required to vacate the premises within 48 hours.

The warning further indicated that failure to comply would result in eviction, demolition of illegal structures, and seizure of any property found on the land, with offenders bearing the costs of the exercise.

After the notice was circulated on social media, panic spread among Glenview residents who believed their borehole was among the targeted structures.

However, in a statement issued on Thursday, October 9, the Harare City Council clarified that the borehole was not under threat. The local authority explained that the order only applied to individuals who had illegally settled on land surrounding the borehole.

“The borehole remains safe,” the council emphasized, adding that its action was specifically directed at land barons and illegal occupants encroaching on public land near the site.