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Air Force warns public over Hatfield golf course stands
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THE Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) has warned members of the public against purchasing residential stands at the Hatfield Golf Course in Harare, insisting that the property remains military land and is not available for sale or residential development.
The warning comes just days after residents objected to a government proposal seeking to convert the golf course into a residential area comprising 17 low-density stands measuring 2 000 square metres each.
The proposed development has sparked renewed concern over the loss of Harare's green spaces, with residents and civic groups accusing authorities of allowing recreational land and open spaces to be converted into housing projects.
In a statement, the AFZ said it had noted a public notice issued under Section 49(4) of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act proposing a change of reservation for the remaining extent of Lot 227 Hatfield Township from golf course to residential use.
"The Air Force of Zimbabwe wants to warn the general public that it has always been the lawful owner of the said property and has no plans to sell or change the reservation from Golf Course to residential stands," the statement said.
The AFZ said ownership of the property was entrenched through gazetting under Section 89 of the Defence Act, which declared the Hatfield Golf Course a cantonment area.
According to the air force, Statutory Instrument 28 of 2026 designates the golf course as a military camp owned by the AFZ on behalf of the State.
The military also objected to any proposed change of land use and warned that those involved in selling or buying stands on the property risk prosecution.
"Anyone who sells or purchases the above property will be prosecuted for violating Sections 89-94 of the Defence Act," the statement added.
The AFZ said copies of the statutory instrument and maps showing the gazetted cantonment boundaries were available for inspection at the Secretary of Defence's offices at Defence House in Harare.
The dispute follows a notice issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works indicating its intention to approve a change of reservation for the land, which is currently zoned as a golf course under the operative Waterfalls/Hatfield Local Development Plan Number 6.
The proposal has attracted opposition from residents' groups and civic organisations.
Combined Harare Residents Association director Reuben Akili lodged formal objections to the development, warning against the continued conversion of golf courses into residential stands.
Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba said the project could worsen already strained service delivery systems in the capital.
He noted that the golf course serves not only as a recreational facility but also as an important urban greenway.
Harare has experienced several land scandals in recent years involving the illegal parcelling of wetlands, open spaces, school grounds and recreational facilities for residential development, often leaving homebuyers with disputed or invalid land claims.
The warning comes just days after residents objected to a government proposal seeking to convert the golf course into a residential area comprising 17 low-density stands measuring 2 000 square metres each.
The proposed development has sparked renewed concern over the loss of Harare's green spaces, with residents and civic groups accusing authorities of allowing recreational land and open spaces to be converted into housing projects.
In a statement, the AFZ said it had noted a public notice issued under Section 49(4) of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act proposing a change of reservation for the remaining extent of Lot 227 Hatfield Township from golf course to residential use.
"The Air Force of Zimbabwe wants to warn the general public that it has always been the lawful owner of the said property and has no plans to sell or change the reservation from Golf Course to residential stands," the statement said.
The AFZ said ownership of the property was entrenched through gazetting under Section 89 of the Defence Act, which declared the Hatfield Golf Course a cantonment area.
According to the air force, Statutory Instrument 28 of 2026 designates the golf course as a military camp owned by the AFZ on behalf of the State.
The military also objected to any proposed change of land use and warned that those involved in selling or buying stands on the property risk prosecution.
The AFZ said copies of the statutory instrument and maps showing the gazetted cantonment boundaries were available for inspection at the Secretary of Defence's offices at Defence House in Harare.
The dispute follows a notice issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works indicating its intention to approve a change of reservation for the land, which is currently zoned as a golf course under the operative Waterfalls/Hatfield Local Development Plan Number 6.
The proposal has attracted opposition from residents' groups and civic organisations.
Combined Harare Residents Association director Reuben Akili lodged formal objections to the development, warning against the continued conversion of golf courses into residential stands.
Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba said the project could worsen already strained service delivery systems in the capital.
He noted that the golf course serves not only as a recreational facility but also as an important urban greenway.
Harare has experienced several land scandals in recent years involving the illegal parcelling of wetlands, open spaces, school grounds and recreational facilities for residential development, often leaving homebuyers with disputed or invalid land claims.
Source - newsday
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