Harare demolitions leave families homeless after years of building
In August, homes were demolished in St Martins Extension, a suburb of Zimbabwe's capital Harare, which the city says were built illegally. Residents say they bought their plots through council processes and point to a court order against demolitions.
Bulldozers and municipal police arrived in St Martins Extension, a suburb of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, at about 5am on 14 August to demolish residents' homes. The city council says it is acting against structures built without the necessary approvals or on land not designated for housing. Residents counter that they obtained their plots through council-linked processes and put their savings into building.
Residents' accounts
Methro Masunga, 28, a single mother of three, spent five years doing part-time cleaning and laundry work to afford a residential stand. She began paying in 2015, received an allocation in 2019 and says the arrangement was formalised through the council in 2020. Memory Chengeta, a former street food vendor, also lost her house, while Joachim Nhete used his retirement package to buy land and build; he puts his investment at over $10,000 and has no insurance. Some residents have returned to renting, while others, including Masunga and Chengeta, remain in makeshift shelters in St Martins.
The legal dispute
Council records seen by Al Jazeera list more than 5,000 houses facing demolition under 37 outstanding High Court orders, and a council task force has inspected 22,255 sites. The total number displaced has not been independently established.
On 29 October 2025, Justice Happias Zhou issued a consent order setting aside demolition notices for named applicants in St Martins Extension and barring the city from evicting them without a valid court order. The order did not automatically cover every property, and it is unclear whether Masunga or Chengeta were included. Council spokesperson Stanley Gama said only illegally built structures, whose owners had been repeatedly warned, were being demolished. Mayor Jacob Mafume urged residents to present approved building plans.
Zimbabwe's Constitution prohibits demolishing homes without a court order, and residents say they were offered no alternative housing. Harare South MP Trymore Kanopula called for a halt until land allocations are audited. Minister Daniel Garwe said the government does not carry out demolitions and cannot interfere with court processes.
