Illegal cluster houses mushroom in Harare

Harare is witnessing the rapid rise of cluster houses across the city, despite the municipality's failure to allocate land for their development, highlighting the growing influence of land barons in the city's urban planning.

This alarming trend was revealed last week during an inquiry into the operations of the City of Harare, which has been marred by corruption and mismanagement. The commission, chaired by Retired Judge Justice Maphios Cheda, was established by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in May 2024 to probe the city's administration following widespread reports of misconduct.

At the heart of the investigation, City of Harare's housing director, Edmore Nhekairo, was questioned about his role in the proliferation of cluster houses. In response to inquiries from commission evidence leader Thabani Vusa Mpofu, Nhekairo stated that the housing department's involvement in cluster house developments was minimal, with the responsibility lying mainly within the purview of the Town Planning Department. However, he expressed surprise at the rapid growth of cluster homes, noting that the municipality had not allocated any land for such developments over the past seven years.

"We have not been allocating any such stands during the period that I have been in Council," Nhekairo told the commission. "The Town Planning Department was aware of the concerns of residents, particularly in areas such as Greendale, Vainona, and Borrowdale, where the conversion of single dwelling units into cluster homes had become widespread."

Nhekairo further explained that the municipality's infrastructure, including sewer and water systems, as well as community facilities like schools, were ill-prepared for the growing cluster developments. He pointed out that for every 500 stands, a primary school should ideally be provided, which had not been the case in many of the areas seeing high levels of development.

The housing director also revealed a troubling link between local councillors and the cluster house boom, admitting that councillors were directly involved in inspecting and approving these developments. Some developers, according to Nhekairo, were being extorted by councillors eager to push the projects forward.

The scandal deepens with the involvement of land barons—individuals with alleged ties to the ruling Zanu-PF party—who are illegally seizing large tracts of land, including wetlands, and selling them to unsuspecting homebuyers. These buyers are left in the lurch when the City of Harare demolishes homes built on illegally acquired land, often resulting in significant financial losses for the property owners.

The issue of land barons and the unchecked growth of cluster houses has sparked outrage among residents and opposition figures, who have long raised concerns about the city's failure to control illegal land sales and its failure to provide adequate urban planning. Despite several consultations, including one at Town House, the municipality seems powerless to curb the actions of land barons and to regulate the development of cluster homes.

As the commission continues its investigation, the focus is on holding accountable not only land barons but also the councillors who have actively facilitated these illegal developments. The crisis highlights the pressing need for reform in Harare's land management policies to prevent further exploitation of vulnerable homebuyers and to address the growing urbanization challenges facing the city.