Harare’s Town Clerk has released a report revealing how the city plans to clean up the growing number of illegal structures built across the capital.
The report says over 22,000 housing stands have been looked into with some getting the green light to stay but many others will be demolished.
According to the report, the council’s Regularisation Task Force has inspected 101 settlements since July 2023, regularising 93 of them mostly longstanding cooperative schemes and private developments lacking compliance certificates.
These areas will now be billed for rates and services with partial compliance certificates issued on condition of infrastructure upgrades.
However, in a hardline stance, the city has ruled out regularisation for illegal structures built on wetlands, school grounds, recreational spaces, and low-density areas. Land invasions after the September 24, 2023 cut-off date are also excluded.
More than 160 sites including parts of Belvedere, Kuwadzana, Mabvuku, Budiriro, and Mbare—face or have already undergone demolition.
The report says these illegal occupations are fueled by land barons, some using forged documents and, in many cases, backed by politically connected actors.
“Council shall continue to deal decisively with all invasions and illegal developments without fear or favour,” the report states, revealing that some developments were carried out overnight or during weekends to avoid detection.
The city has also exposed the abuse of housing cooperatives by land barons operating under the guise of serving low-income earners.
