In order to give property owners ample time to rebuild and find suitable housing for their families, the government has banned the demolition of homes in Harare unless they are given a four-month notice period.
According to the Herald, this decision comes after the Harare City Council announced that it will start tearing down more than 5,000 homes this week.
Those whose homes were reportedly constructed without permission on property intended for public utilities have already received 48-hour eviction notices. Mabelreign, Kuwadzana, Budiriro, Mabvuku, and Glen View are among the locations that are targeted.
However, Daniel Garwe, the minister of local government and public works, lambasted the City of Harare’s practice of demolishing homes without giving enough warning in an interview conducted last Friday at the Institute of Architects of Zimbabwe convention in Harare.
He underlined the need of upholding citizens’ rights.
Minister Garwe suggested that if demolitions were necessary, they should focus on structures built on land allocated for social amenities like schools, railway lines, and recreational areas, rather than other reasons.
“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 that we are just issuing statements because there was the Extraordinary SADC Summit recently.
“Yes, we appreciate that those houses were illegally built, people who were not following the laid down procedures, people built on land set aside for other activities social amenities, schools and railway line; we are aware of that as Government.”
