Government Halts Harare House Demolitions Without Four-Month Notice

The Government has outlawed the demolition of houses in Harare without providing a minimum notice period of four months, ensuring property owners have time to relocate and secure decent shelter for their families.

This directive comes in response to the Harare City Council’s controversial plan to demolish over 5,000 houses starting this week.

The council had already issued 48-hour eviction notices to residents whose homes were allegedly built illegally on land reserved for public amenities.

Areas targeted for demolition include Mabelreign, Kuwadzana, Budiriro, Mabvuku, and Glen View. However, the approach has drawn sharp criticism from Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, who described it as inhumane and unreasonable.

Speaking last Friday during a meeting of the Institute of Architects of Zimbabwe in Harare, Minister Garwe emphasized the need to uphold citizens’ right to shelter. He condemned the council’s short notice period of four to five days as impractical and unfair.

“We are human beings, and every human being has got a right to shelter,” said Minister Garwe. “There is a lot of excitement from the City of Harare in terms of wanting to demolish people’s homes. They are playing to the gallery, condemning public officials and the Government.”

Minister Garwe acknowledged that many houses targeted for demolition were illegally built on land earmarked for social amenities such as schools and recreational areas. However, he stressed the importance of a humane approach, calling for adequate notice and relocation measures.

“The Government has advised the council to give these people adequate notice to vacate those areas so that they can then come and demolish, while these people are properly settled elsewhere,” he said. “Give them three or four months’ notice. Who can build a house in four days in Zimbabwe and then move to where it is built?”

Minister Garwe also addressed the broader issue of illegal land sales, issuing a stern warning to both land barons and unsuspecting buyers. He urged citizens to refrain from purchasing land from unverified individuals and to report suspicious transactions.

“It is illegal to buy land from land barons,” he said. “Both the buyer and the seller can face criminal charges. If a deal sounds too good to be true, such as a 2,000-square-metre stand for US$500, it likely is.”