World · Africa · 6 hrs ago
Harare demolitions leave residents homeless amid land dispute
City authorities demolished homes in St Martins Extension, Harare, leaving some residents homeless.
Residents say they bought plots through council-linked processes and spent years building their homes.
The City of Harare says the structures lacked required approvals or were on land not designated for housing.
The dispute reflects wider questions over land sales, planning rules and whether residents’ allocations were valid.
Council records list more than 5,000 houses facing demolition under 37 outstanding High Court orders, but that figure does not mean those homes have already been demolished.
A 2025 court order barred demolitions against named applicants in St Martins without a valid court order, but it did not automatically cover every property in the area.
The available information does not establish whether the affected residents’ homes were covered, and no further action is specified.
Bulldozers demolished homes in St Martins Extension, Harare, leaving residents homeless amid a dispute over land allocations and planning rules.
Residents say they obtained stands through council-linked processes and invested their savings in building homes.
The City of Harare says it is enforcing planning regulations against unauthorised structures and disputed land sales.
A 2025 court order barred demolition of homes belonging to named applicants without a valid court order, but it did not automatically cover every property in St Martins.
The number of people displaced across Harare in 2026 has not been independently established.
- Who
- Harare residents, including Methro Masunga and Memory Chengeta, lost homes; the City of Harare carried out the demolitions.
- What
- Homes were demolished amid a dispute over land allocations, planning rules and the application of a court order.
- When
- The demolitions described took place around 5am on Friday, August 14; the article identifies the year as 2026.
- Where
- St Martins Extension, a suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe.
- Why
- The city says it is enforcing planning rules against unauthorised structures and disputed land sales. Residents say they acquired stands through council-linked processes.
St Martins residents
City of Harare
Land acquisition
St Martins residents
Residents say they bought stands through council-linked processes and received allocation documents.
City of Harare
The city says some structures were built without necessary approvals or on land not designated for housing.
Demolitions
St Martins residents
Residents argue enforcement affected people who believed their allocations were legitimate.
City of Harare
The city says demolitions address illegal construction, disputed land sales and development on sites reserved for public infrastructure.
Court order
St Martins residents
Chengeta said a court order had stopped demolitions and that authorities proceeded without an order overturning it.
City of Harare
The 2025 consent order applied to named applicants and barred demolition of their homes without a valid court order; it did not automatically protect every property in St Martins.
Masunga began paying for her residential stand.
Masunga received an allocation for her stand.
Masunga says the arrangement was formalised through the city council and residents began receiving official documents.
Justice Happias Zhou issued a consent order setting aside demolition notices for named applicants in St Martins Extension and barring demolition of their homes without a valid court order.
Bulldozers and municipal police arrived in St Martins Extension and homes, including Masunga’s, were demolished.
- Affected area
- St Martins Extension, Harare
- Residents interviewed
- Methro Masunga, Memory Chengeta and Joachim Nhete
- Masunga’s stand payments began
- 2015
- Consent order
- Case HCH5444/25, issued October 29, 2025
- Properties facing demolition
- More than 5,000 houses listed under 37 outstanding High Court orders
- Sites inspected
- 22,255 sites inspected by a council task force
What people are saying
I thought they were here for some other business, probably land development or road grading; alas, they had been sent to destroy our homes. We tried to understand, but no one would hear us
There was a court order for them to stop demolitions. The municipal authorities came with no court order that overturned the previous judgement, but went ahead to destroy the properties