The City of Harare demolished dozens of houses in Ridgeview and Belvedere today, citing the structures as illegal. The demolition is part of a wider operation targeting unauthorized buildings throughout the city.
Samuel Nyabeza, Harare’s Director of Planning, emphasized the need for adherence to urban development regulations, explaining that the city cannot allow construction to proceed without council-approved plans.
“You cannot build a house without council-approved plans. We have to restore order,” he stated.
While the demolition has sparked heated debate, with some residents citing housing shortages as a driver of the construction boom, city officials remain firm in their stance. They assert that unauthorized structures undermine urban planning efforts and place undue pressure on Harare’s already struggling services and infrastructure.
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