Around 200 houses and properties, including two luxury mansions on the foothills of the National Heroes Acre, have been illegally constructed on land reserved for the Harare Drive expansion project and are now at risk of demolition.
The City of Harare says Harare Drive was originally designed to form a circular route around the city, and its plans remain unchanged.
According to the original 1998 detailed engineering designs, the missing sections of the Harare Drive ring road are intended to connect key areas, including Solomon Mujuru Drive (formerly Kirkman Road) at Warren Hills to Gleneagles Road in Southerton, Houghton Park through Mainway Meadows, Retreat to Seke Road, then to Twentydales Road in Hatfield to Mutare Road in Msasa.
However, widespread encroachment has occurred, especially in the Waterfalls and Retreat suburbs, where more than 100 houses have been built on the Harare Drive road reserve.
In Waterfalls, particularly in Mainway Meadows, a visible divide exists where residents have left a 60-meter-wide corridor free of development in recognition of the future path of Harare Drive.
However, in areas like Retreat, construction continues unchecked, with reports of land barons illegally pegging stands in anticipation of the road’s development.
Minister Oliver Makoni, who leads the Church of Grace Ministries and built a structure in Retreat along the planned path of Harare Drive, denied that they had encroached on land designated for the road. He said:
<blockquote>
We have never been informed by the City Council about any encroachment issues.
We have a site plan, and our papers are in order, all the papers are at Rowan Martin. Why can’t you obtain a GPS report, they have that GPS. It can verify whether we have encroached or not.
It’s nearly 10 years now, but above all the City should know that peoples’ lives are important than a road.
</blockquote>
Harare City Council acting director of urban planning, Samuel Nyabezi, acknowledged the existence of many houses built on Harare Drive, particularly in the Retreat area. He said:
<blockquote>
Yes, there are many houses that have been built on Harare Drive, particularly in Retreat, but at some point, those structures shall be demolished because our plan for Harare Drive road expansion is clear.
</blockquote>
He also told The Herald that two mansions had been built near Harare Drive, close to the National Heroes Acre. 
Nyabezi said the owners of these houses had been informed that there would be no negotiations and the houses would be demolished. He added:
<blockquote>
The city council will never approve a house to be built on land reserved for a road. These people are just getting site plans and going on to build a full house.
At some point, those structures shall be demolished because our plan for Harare Drive road expansion is clear.
</blockquote>
Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, reiterated the city’s commitment to demolishing all illegal structures. Said Mafume:
<blockquote>
We will demolish all those illegal structures. If you ask me to provide a solution, I will only push for demolition, because surely, you cannot build on land reserved for a road.
It’s perhaps the government that will stop us. You cannot build on land reserved for a road.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court recently ruled that demolishing homes without a court order is unconstitutional, presenting a significant challenge for local authorities.
<a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/200-houses-on-harare-drive-face-demolition/">More: The Herald</a>

Pindula News

Around 200 houses and properties built on land reserved for expanding Harare Drive may be demolished. The City of Harare originally planned for Harare Drive to be a circular road around the city, connecting key areas. Some houses were built illegally on the road reserve, especially in Waterfalls and Retreat suburbs. The City Council confirmed that these houses will be demolished, including two mansions near the National Heroes Acre. The mayor emphasized that illegal structures will be demolished, despite a recent ruling making it harder to do so without a court order.

200 Houses Built On Land Reserved For Harare Drive Expansion Face Demolition

The City of Harare has acknowledged responsibility for repairing a stretch of road that is now in poor condition, with signs suggesting the work was poorly executed.
On Monday, February 24, social media personality Mmatigari brought the issue to the attention of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, describing the road’s rehabilitation as “a big crooked mess.” He wrote on X:
<blockquote>
The contractor who resurfaced Harare Drive from Arcturus Road to E D Mnangagwa Road (formerly Enterprise) cheated the people of Zimbabwe
The road surface moves and creates ridges and contours on the entire stretch adjacent to Oriel School at the intersection with Pringle Road.
It’s a big crooked mess.
We can’t surface roads and then need to redo them 2-3 years later. Tingavake Nyika yacho sei manje?
</blockquote>
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development responded and said that the section of the road was rehabilitated by the City of Harare. The Ministry said:
<blockquote>
Please be advised that the section of Harare Drive, stretching from Arcturus Road to ED Mnangagwa Road (formerly Enterprise Road), was rehabilitated by the City of Harare.
This project was not undertaken by the Ministry of Transport &amp; Infrastructural Development. Thank you.
</blockquote>
On Tuesday, the City of Harare confirmed it had contracted a private company to rehabilitate the road section in 2017.
The local authority said is investigating the issue and plans to repair the damaged areas as funds become available. The statement reads:
<blockquote>
Our attention has been drawn to a social media posting on the state of the road on Harare Drive between Acturus Road and ED Mnangagwa Road.
We confirm that the City of Harare indeed contracted a private company to rehabilitate the portion of the road in 2017.
The City of Harare is looking into the issue with a view of working on the damaged parts of the road as funds become available.
It would be prudent that more funds are availed to make sure that we rehabilitate as many link roads as possible to ease pressure on reconstructed roads.
We would like to thank the resident who highlighted the issue and we reiterate that action will be taken.
</blockquote>

The City of Harare says it's their fault that a road is in bad shape. A social media personality complained about the bad road work. The Ministry of Transport said the city did the work. The city admits they hired a private contractor in 2017. They plan to fix the road when they have enough money. They want more funds to fix other roads too. The city thanked the person who complained and promised to take action. They are investigating the problem.

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