Harare Council: Direct Payments for Illegal Settlers to Avoid Demolition

• Harare City Council has warned residents illegally occupying council land to pay regularisation penalties directly within 14 days.
• Failure to comply with the payment deadline will result in the demolition of their structures.
• The council explicitly advises settlers to avoid third-party intermediaries, such as land barons, who are reportedly defrauding them.
• Edgar Dzehonye, Principal Housing Director, confirmed that payments must be made directly at council district offices.
• This warning was issued on November 5, 2026, following a statement made earlier that week.

For those who have previously paid money to land barons, this warning serves as a critical alert that such payments are unlikely to be recognized by the Harare City Council.

Edgar Dzehonye, the Principal Housing Director for the Harare City Council, unequivocally stated earlier this week that affected settlers must completely bypass any third-party intermediaries. Instead, all regularisation fees are to be remitted directly to the nearest council district offices. This explicit mandate is designed to ensure the integrity of the payment process, guaranteeing that all funds are properly recorded and applied towards legitimate regularization, thereby preventing further instances of exploitation and ensuring full compliance with the Harare City Council regularisation penalty framework.

The directive is a strategic move to streamline the regularization process and effectively eliminate the fraudulent schemes that have historically undermined efforts to formalize informal settlements. By strictly requiring direct payments, the council aims to safeguard residents from financial losses and ensure that collected funds are channeled directly into essential urban development and the provision of public services, rather than being diverted by profiteering individuals. This measure represents a crucial element of the council's broader strategy to manage and control Zimbabwe illegal land occupation, emphasizing transparency and accountability.

This Harare land barons warning carries profound and immediate implications for the thousands of residents who have constructed dwellings on council-owned land. The stringent 14-day deadline places immense pressure on these individuals to promptly verify their land tenure status and ensure all necessary payments are made. The council's unequivocal declaration regarding demolition for non-compliance underscores the severe and irreversible consequences awaiting those who either disregard the regularization process or continue to engage with unauthorized agents.

Furthermore, for those individuals who may have previously paid sums of money to land barons, this warning serves as a critical alert that such payments are unlikely to be recognized by the Harare City Council. Consequently, these residents could still be held liable for the official regularisation penalty, leaving them vulnerable to the impending Harare demolition notice for illegal structures. The council's firm stance highlights the imperative of adhering strictly to official channels and completely avoiding any involvement with intermediaries who falsely claim to facilitate land regularization, thereby mitigating potential litigation risks for both settlers and the land barons themselves.

Lawyers representing clients occupying land in Harare must advise them to directly pay regularisation penalties to the City Council within 14 days to avoid demolition, and to beware of third-party intermediaries. This also highlights potential litigation risks for land barons or those who have paid them.

Source: Original reporting via NewsDay