Harare Mayor faces backlash

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume is under intense scrutiny as a land dispute in St Martins threatens the homes of over 300 families, despite residents insisting they legally purchased their stands from the City of Harare.

The affected homeowners, whose properties lie just past Coca-Cola opposite Sungidale along Chitungwiza Road, say they were blindsided by an eviction notice after discovering that the same land had allegedly been resold to the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC).

In a formal notice issued by Acting Director of Planning, Samuel Nyabezi, the City of Harare accused the residents of carrying out unauthorised developments and ordered them to halt construction immediately. "You are hereby directed to cease all ongoing development activities and to restore the property to its original condition. Failure to comply will result in enforcement action," part of the letter read.

Residents, however, maintain that they are the rightful owners of the land, having purchased the stands through official city channels in 2019. David Jenje, chairperson of the St Martins Pay Scheme, accused the city of betrayal and double-dealing. "We legally acquired these stands from the City of Harare and have the paperwork to prove it - including offer letters, sale agreements, and receipts showing full payment. Council cannot now turn around and sell the same land to another party," Jenje said.

Several homeowners have already begun constructing houses, while others invested in infrastructure such as roads, sewer lines, and water systems - all with the city's knowledge and approval. Jenje added that some construction materials were even stored at the Council's Remembrance Offices and, when they went missing, the city admitted responsibility.

Documents reviewed by ZiMetro News show that each stand was priced at US$12,000. Correspondence dated April 2023 from the city's Director of Housing and Community Services, Mr. Sithole, acknowledged the loss of residents' materials and assured them that the Council would replace them once authorised. "A report has been prepared seeking authority to replace the missing materials once Council accedes to the request," Sithole wrote.

Despite these assurances, residents say no action was taken, and communication with city officials eventually ceased. The recent eviction directive has sparked outrage, with homeowners calling it "outright fraud by the same institution that sold us the land."

The dispute has intensified concerns over corruption and governance within the City of Harare, which has faced repeated scandals involving multiple land sales and questionable allocations. As the city's top official, Mayor Mafume is now under pressure to clarify the matter and take responsibility. Attempts by ZiMetro News to obtain comment from Mafume or his spokesperson Stanley Gama were unsuccessful.

Critics argue that the St Martins saga highlights deep-rooted corruption in Harare's municipal system and raises serious questions about accountability, transparency, and the protection of citizens' rights.