Zimbabwean homeowners face land sales and demolitions dilemma

THE EDITOR, Madam:

It’s sad and painful that ZANU-PF has historically used land as a means of consolidating political loyalty. Stands are sometimes handed out at rallies or through party-linked housing cooperatives. Beneficiaries are told they are being ‘empowered’ by the party, often without being given proper paperwork such as title deeds, surveyor approvals, or development permits.

The land, in many cases, belongs to councils, state institutions, or private owners. Because the allocations bypass legal urban planning channels, they are later declared ‘illegal settlements’. Local authorities argue that many of the stands are in wetlands, road reserves, or on undesignated land that violates town planning laws.

In recent years, Zimbabwe has witnessed a surge in the sale of residential stands to ordinary citizens desperate to own a home. Much of this land is distributed through ruling party structures, particularly ZANU-PF, often during election seasons when land allocations are used as a political tool to secure votes. For many, it is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to escape rental burdens and build a permanent home.

However, what initially seems like empowerment has turned into heartbreak for thousands of families. After investing years of savings and finishing their houses, some homeowners have been left devastated as local councils and authorities move in with bulldozers, demolishing the very homes people built legally, or so they thought.

For homeowners, the situation is devastating. Many spend their life savings or take loans to build, only to watch bulldozers reduce their investments to rubble. Entire neighbourhoods have been razed in Harare, Chitungwiza, Mutare, and other towns, leaving families homeless.

Residents accuse the ZANU-PF and councils of hypocrisy, asking why authorities only intervene after people have built instead of stopping illegal construction at the onset. Critics say demolitions are less about ‘restoring order’ and more about punishing citizens who were misled by political actors.

NEWTON TAPIWA MPOFU

Political Activist