HARARE, Zimbabwe — Municipal authorities in Harare have demolished homes in several settlements, leaving numerous families homeless after residents say they legally purchased the land and built over many years. The demolitions, which began earlier this week, targeted structures in areas where occupants hold title deeds and receipts of sale, according to residents. Bulldozers moved through the settlements at dawn, residents said, giving families little time to remove belongings. Affected households are now sheltering with relatives or in the open, and community leaders have appealed to the government for an urgent halt to the operations and for compensation.
City officials defended the demolitions as part of an enforcement campaign against illegal construction on land earmarked for public infrastructure, though they did not provide details on the number of structures affected or the legal status of individual properties. The dispute highlights longstanding tensions over land administration in Zimbabwe, where overlapping claims and incomplete records have left many homeowners vulnerable. Rights groups have criticized the lack of prior notice and court orders, warning that the demolitions could deepen a housing crisis in a country already grappling with economic hardship. The national government has not commented publicly on the operations, and it remains unclear whether affected families will receive alternative accommodation or legal recourse.
Independent reporting synthesized from primary wires and global correspondents.