Harare Demolitions Leave Families Homeless in St Martins Extension

Municipal authorities in Zimbabwe have left numerous families homeless following sudden Harare house demolitions in the St Martins Extension suburb. The operation began at around 5am on Friday, August 14, when earth-moving vehicles and municipal police arrived to tear down structures. Residents who spent years saving through part-time jobs and council-linked processes now find themselves without shelter, raising urgent concerns about land administration and housing rights in the capital.

Methro Masunga, a single mother of three who began paying for her residential stand in 2015, watched as her home was destroyed. Similarly, former street food vendor Memory Chengeta and retiree Joachim Nhete lost properties they had built using their hard-earned savings. Affected community members pointed out that a consent order issued by Justice Happias Zhou on October 29, 2025, had previously barred the City of Harare from evicting named applicants or demolishing homes in the area without a valid court order.

Harare house demolitions have left families homeless despite previous court orders protecting residents.

City authorities, however, maintained that the operation targeted illegal structures built without necessary approvals or on unauthorized land. Municipal spokesperson Stanley Gama stated that owners had received repeated warnings against proceeding with construction. Meanwhile, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume urged residents with approved building plans to present them during inspections, though he did not comment on the specific St Martins demolitions.

Why it matters

The ongoing dispute highlights deep vulnerabilities in Harare's land administration and the severe human cost of municipal enforcement actions. Residents who believed they followed formal council processes are now displaced, while authorities grapple with unauthorized construction on land reserved for public infrastructure.