Zimbabwe demolitions have left families homeless in Harare, with residents accusing municipal authorities of destroying homes they spent years building.
The demolitions have sparked a dispute over land ownership, building permits and court orders.
According to an investigation by Al Jazeera published on November 10, residents in St Martins Extension say they purchased residential plots through council-linked arrangements.
However, Harare City Council maintains that it is targeting unauthorised buildings and structures constructed on land not approved for housing.
Zimbabwe demolitions destroy years of savings
On August 14, municipal officers and bulldozers arrived in St Martins Extension early in the morning.
Among those affected was Methro Masunga, a 28-year-old mother of three.
Masunga told Al Jazeera that she had spent five years working part-time jobs and saving money to purchase land.
She began making payments in 2015 and received a plot allocation in 2019.
According to her account, the arrangement was formalised through municipal documentation in 2020.
However, her home was later demolished.
Another resident, Joachim Nhete, said he lost a house built using his retirement savings.
He estimated his investment at more than $10,000.
Meanwhile, Memory Chengeta, another affected resident, has been living in temporary shelter after losing her home.
Some families have returned to renting, while others remain near their demolished properties.
More than 5,000 homes face demolition
The scale of the Zimbabwe demolitions has raised concerns among housing advocates.
According to council records reviewed by Al Jazeera, more than 5,000 houses face demolition under 37 outstanding High Court orders.
However, this figure represents properties facing possible demolition, not homes already destroyed.
The total number of people displaced across Harare in 2026 remains unconfirmed.
Separately, a municipal task force has inspected 22,255 sites to identify buildings on prohibited or unauthorised land.
Authorities say the operations aim to address illegal construction, disputed land sales and development on land reserved for public infrastructure.
Court order raises legal questions
The Zimbabwe demolitions have also triggered questions about whether authorities complied with existing court protections.
In October 2025, High Court Justice Happias Zhou issued an order protecting named applicants in St Martins Extension from eviction or demolition without a valid court order.
However, that ruling did not automatically cover every property in the neighbourhood.
It remains unclear whether the residents interviewed by Al Jazeera were among those protected.
Harare City Council spokesperson Stanley Gama has maintained that authorities targeted buildings whose owners had repeatedly received warnings.
Mayor Jacob Mafume also said residents with approved building plans should present their documents during inspections.
The dispute therefore centres partly on whether residents who received land allocation letters also obtained valid building approvals.
Human rights groups demand accountability
Housing advocates argue that the demolitions raise serious concerns about residents’ rights.
Zimbabwe’s Constitution requires a court order before people can be evicted from their homes or have their homes demolished.
The country’s human settlements policy also calls for alternative accommodation to be prepared before relocations and demolitions.
Affected residents told Al Jazeera they had not been offered alternative housing.
Precious Shumba, director of the Harare Residents’ Trust, questioned the municipal authorities’ actions.
Meanwhile, human rights organisation ZimRights raised concerns about accountability and the rule of law.
Harare South lawmaker Trymore Kanopula called for further demolitions to be suspended pending an investigation into land allocations.
Families seek compensation after losing homes
Zimbabwe’s housing dispute reflects wider problems involving land administration and unauthorised property sales.
A 2019 commission of inquiry identified weak administration, poor record-keeping and unauthorised land transactions.
Residents now want authorities to clarify how their plots were allocated and whether the demolitions were lawful.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe said the national government was not responsible for carrying out the demolitions and could not interfere with court proceedings.
For families who lost their homes, however, the immediate challenge is finding somewhere safe to live.
Nhete said he hopes the courts will hold Harare City Council accountable and help him recover his losses.
As legal and political questions continue, affected residents face an uncertain future.