Tafadzwa Nyikadzino

THE City of Harare has issued a 14-day ultimatum to beneficiaries of regularised dysfunctional settlements to comply with the regularisation framework or face demolition of their structures.

In a public notice issued in terms of Section 27 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29:12) and the Model Building By-laws of 1977, the city said the order applies to all natural and juristic persons who illegally occupied Council, State and private land before the regularisation cut-off date of 23 September 2023 and were issued with partial certificates of compliance.

The council said the beneficiaries were given a lifeline against demolition but have failed to meet the requirements.

The city ordered affected residents to visit their respective District Offices and pay prescribed penalties for illegal occupation of Council land, pay full intrinsic land value, pay penalties for illegal building and illegal construction of road, water and sewerage reticulation infrastructure and illegal connections, submit architectural building plans for approval, and complete outstanding infrastructure services.

For those who comply, council will open rates accounts.

For non-compliant settlements, council said it will enforce the law through demolitions, including demolition of all illegal structures built on ecologically sensitive areas and sites reserved for public facilities that cannot be regularised, and stop and demolish all ongoing illegal construction without council approval.

“Failure to comply with this order shall result in Council proceeding with demolitions of illegal structures and strict enforcement of the law without any further notice,” the notice reads.

“All costs of demolitions, rubble removal, site clearing and reinstatement shall be borne entirely by the owner of the demolished illegal structures. Council will act firmly, decisively and WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR. No person, regardless of status, position, political affiliation or influence, is exempt.”

The deadline is 14 calendar days from 26 October 2026.