Bulldozers roll into St Martins as City of Harare demolishes illegal structures
The City of Harare has carried out demolitions of illegally built structures in St Martins as part of its ongoing crackdown on unauthorised land occupations.
In a statement issued on Friday, 14 August 2026, the City said demolitions of both temporary and permanent illegal structures were underway in the area.
“The City of Harare is currently carrying out demolitions on illegally built structures in St Martins. Demolitions of temporary and permanent illegal structures are underway in the area as the City of Harare cracks down on unauthorised land occupations and illegal structures,” the City said.
The local authority urged residents to verify land ownership before purchasing.
“The City of Harare urges residents to consult our housing department or district offices before purchasing land as they are falling prey to land barons and criminals,” the statement added.
St Martins, located along Airport Road in Hatfield, has been at the centre of Harare’s housing development disputes for years.
The City of Harare has previously said it started pegging stands for the St Martins Housing Scheme along Airport Road after some stands on the initial approved plan were affected by a 200-metre statutory cantonment for the Zimbabwe National Army.
The scheme has also been linked to cancelled housing deals. The National Building Society (NBS) lost 333 stands in St Martins after the Harare City Council moved to cancel an earlier agreement with the financial services provider.
Friday’s demolitions form part of a wider city-wide enforcement drive.
The City of Harare has reaffirmed its decision to demolish illegally constructed structures on land reserved for public amenities, wetlands, road reserves, and critical infrastructure, saying affected residents were repeatedly warned.
According to the City, several families and tens of thousands of small-to-medium businesses whose structures occupy open spaces, farms, wetlands and school or clinic sites risk losing their properties as Harare intensifies its crackdown on land invasions.
A council task force recently visited 22,255 sites, warning that structures built on prohibited or protected land will not be spared.
City spokesperson Stanley Gama has previously defended the demolitions, saying: “We cannot regularise and endorse lawlessness. Otherwise, people will end up building houses even at Rufaro Stadium”.
The council says more than 5,000 houses in high-density suburbs will be demolished under 37 High Court orders, alongside structures in over 40 “illegal” cooperatives.
City officials say the operation is aimed at land barons, politically connected individuals and organised groups occupying land earmarked for public facilities.
Council reports indicate that some invaders used documents with scanned or forged signatures, such as offer letters and agreements of sale, with all suspected forgeries being reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
“A clear message is being sent to all land barons that the council will not tolerate lawlessness or the abuse of the Co-operative Act and Parallel Development Concept by politically connected individuals,” a council report said. *_-Pindula_*
