More than 16,500 houses in Epworth are set to be demolished after being identified as illegally built on land earmarked for public infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and industrial zones. According to Epworth Local Board planner Pardon Chibuwe, the homes represent “land use conflict areas” and are part of a broader crisis involving over 100,000 irregular structures across Harare Province.
The revelations surfaced during a planning workshop with Local Government Minister Charles Tavengwa, where municipalities presented their draft master plans. Chibuwe blamed rogue land barons for selling land not zoned for housing and said the board intends to resettle affected residents through densification including vertical development and reduced stand sizes to maximize space.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume echoed the urgency, warning that illegal homes are rapidly outnumbering legal ones. “The city cannot remain this flat; it needs to grow vertically,” he said. Mafume revealed that thousands more demolitions are likely as the capital grapples with severe land pressure, including a lack of space for cemeteries, clinics, and schools.
Minister Tavengwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving urban planning failures as part of its 2030 development goals. He said the submission of master plans from Chitungwiza, Epworth, and Ruwa marks progress toward curbing illegal settlements and improving service delivery. Harare’s plan remains pending due to financial constraints.
